No change at the top of the Premiership tables

The men’s game-of-the-day at Auchenhowie lived up to expectation with nine goals, but it was Western who got six of them to hold on to second spot in the Premiership and open up a six point gap over the defeated Edinburgh University.

However, it was the students who broke first with a strike by Keir Robb in the opening 20 seconds. That did not set a trend, goals from Jack Mackenzie, Andrew McConnell at a penalty corner and Rob Harwood put Western 3-1 ahead before Robb again struck to reduce the deficit to 3-2 at the interval.

An Edinburgh comeback looked to have some substance when Clemens Probst levelled at 3-3 early in the second half, but then up stepped McConnell to stifle the revival with a hat-trick which consisted of two penalty corner strikes and another from the spot for a comfortable 6-3 win in the end.

Grange`s reign at the apex of the Premiership continues unabated with an 8-2 win over Hillhead. It was only 3-2 at the interval, Rory McCann scored twice along with Fraser Heigh for the league leaders while Jimmy McLaren and Matt Carder equalised twice for Hillhead. But the second half belonged to Grange with further strikes from Heigh again, two from Aussie Dylan Bean, Albert Rowling and finally Jacob Tweedie.

The gallop for a top six spot has seen Clydesdale secure their place with a 4-3 win at Inverleith. Ethan Robertson got a double, Sam Hayes and David Clark got the others for Clydesdale while Charlie Jack, Ollie Wilson and Livio Belotti replied for Inverleith.

Inverleith captain Ed Iffla said: “A really good performance that deserved more from the game. Plenty to take into a huge game tomorrow.” That was a reference to Inverleith`s away fixture at Uddingston – a must-win as the Edinburgh side share 15 points with seventh placed Hillhead although they do have a better goal difference.

Watsonians have also confirmed their top six place with a 5-0 win over bottom side FMGM Monarchs, the catalyst here was four penalty corner strikes by Dan Coultas, the other goal came from Guy Rowson.

The other end of the table seemed obsessed by a 3-3 score line. That was the final score between Dunfermline Carnegie and Kelburne, Sam Eadie and a double by Andrew Doyle were on target for the Fifers while Iain Scholefield also got two and Hector Hall the other for the Paisley side.

Same score between Uddingston and ESM with Stephen Mackenzie, Ben Young and Louis Gardiner scoring for the home side while Jack Collister and a double by Andy McCutcheon replied for the Edinburgh visitors.

The Watsonians` bandwagon keeps rolling along, today they went to Titwood and came away with a 3-0 victory to retain their 100% record at the top of the women`s Premiership.

Perhaps the result was settled in the opening quarter when the champions took a two goal lead through a Sarah Jamieson reverse stick shot and a thunderous penalty corner strike by Emily Dark.

However, it was not all plain sailing as Wendy Justice`s charges came back into the contest and controlled most of the second and third quarters and only some fine saves from Watsonians` keeper Lucy Camline kept them at bay. But with seven minutes left the result was sealed with a spot conversion by Jamieson to take the three points.

Wendy Justice, in her first match in charge of Clydesdale Western, said: “We had our chances but were unable to convert. It was a lively, quick match which had plenty of fast penetration opportunities into the opposing circles. I would have said very entertaining for those who came along to spectate.”

Edinburgh University kept in touch at the top with a 2-0 win at Wildcats. After a goalless first half Eve Pearson opened for the students with an effort that went in off a Wildcats` defender and then Jika Nyirenda added a second as Wildcats pressed to get back on level terms.

However, GHK were the main benefactors in the top six, they beat Hillhead 2-1 and moved up from fifth to third and leapfrogged Clydesdale Western and Wildcats in the process.

It might have been different if Hillhead had put the ball in the net rather than hit the bar twice in the first quarter, but GHK struck in the next quarter with captain Carly Bisset scoring twice, once at a penalty corner and again from the spot. In the second half Wendy Andrews pulled one back for Hillhead with a fierce shot from the top of the circle, but not enough to prevent a GHK victory.

At the end of the game Carly said: “Was a really gritty performance, but I’m really proud of how hard the team worked throughout the game, and how we ground out the last few minutes of the game to take the win.”

Grange were the highest scorers of the day with a 9-0 win over Gordonians – they are now only two points behind Hillhead in the race for the last top six spot. But they play Edinburgh University tomorrow – that could be a challenge. Kirstie Buchan scored a hat-trick, Rebecca Gordon got two and the others came from Rachel Sheil, Connie Roxburgh, Skye Waugh and Mariana McLean.

Finally, Dundee Wanderers look rooted to the bottom of the table after losing 3-0 to Inverleith. It was goalless at the interval, although Sam Sangster missed from the spot for Wanderers. The visitors put on the pressure in the second half with goals from Chrissie Clark at a penalty corner, Kirsty Cannon at a counter attack and finally Eilidh Thomson at another set piece. The result pushes the Edinburgh side up to tenth place by overtaking Gordonians.

 

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