Premiership`s top six now strive for a semi-final place in the second phase

The Premiership race now enters its second phase, the top six will play each other again with the side that finishes top of the table claiming the Premiership Trophy and the second European slot. The top four clubs will play in a semi-final/final competition (1v4 & 2v3) for the National Champions Trophy and the first European slot.

And all the results from phase one are carried forward into the next stage.

This preview will be looking at the top six programme for Saturday in the women`s and men`s competition but also the slightly unusual fate of two clubs – Glasgow University women and ESM men.

As it stands after eleven games to date Watsonians are out on their own in the women`s Premiership, five points ahead of rivals Edinburgh University – and have yet to drop a single point. They appear to be the most complete outfit in the competition.

And they will be aiming to maintain that perfect record at home to third placed Wildcats in their opening fixture of this phase. The sides last met back in September and the Edinburgh side triumphed 4-1 with goals from Emily Dark, Ailsa Small, Katie Crawford and Heather Tait. The problem for the Wildcats` defence is that most of the goals emanate from Scotland striker Sarah Jamieson but also from a host of other players pitching in as well.

Realistically Edinburgh University look the only viable challenger to Watsonians for the top spot at this stage, but they must keep winning to keep up the pressure. But they have a tricky home fixture against Clydesdale Western, a side six points below them.

Last time out it was a 1-1 draw – Louise Campbell`s opener for the students was cancelled out by Margery Justice. Clydesdale may not have had the best of seasons so far, but there could be a renaissance under new coach Wendy Justice, and they have a lot of very experienced and talented players in the ranks.

So this could be an interesting encounter.

The final top six match pairs top six surprise packet Glasgow University and fifth placed GHK. The Glasgow students did remarkably well to steal sixth place from under the noses of Hillhead – but there they are!

Glasgow University`s rise to a top six place in the women`s Premiership had all the hallmarks of a fairy tale, with two games to go before the split the students trailed sixth placed Hillhead by six points and an inferior goal difference. Captain Grace Drummond adopted a never-say-die approach, she led her charges to a 1-0 win over Uddingston and 10-2 against Dundee Wanderers, while in the interim Hillhead lost both their games against GHK and Watsonians. The teams finished on the same points and goal difference but Glasgow had scored five more goals and took the reward.

On the success Grace and coach Steven Percy were of one mind and said: “Making the top six was an important step for our club in terms of the players in the squad, they`re capable of being competitive and looking forward to having the five additional games against Scotland`s top clubs. It`ll also give the club confidence and a platform to push on for future years.”

They went on: “We`ve done well against teams in the top half, playing the top clubs comes as an additional motivator, the target for us has to be about making each of the games as competitive as possible and take points if the chance to do so arises. For the players it`ll be about experiencing playing in tough matches and going toe to toe with the best.”

University have had some moments in the sun already – they beat Wildcats 3-2, they held the Edinburgh students to a 1-1 draw in the cup, and their previous outing against GHK ended in a goalless draw.

But if GHK hope to challenge for a top four spot they must take the three points from this game – they are on the same points as fourth placed Clydesdale and only two points adrift of Wildcats a place above. So Fiona Semple`s charges have a real incentive on Saturday.

The men`s title race is developing into a bit of a two horse race between leaders Grange and Western, the former have a single point lead.

Grange have a tough home fixture against third placed Edinburgh University – last time out the contest ended in a 3-3 draw, the only points Grange have dropped all season. And they were lucky to get that – the students seemed to be heading for victory 3-2 ahead going into the final minute, but up popped Duncan Riddell to force the ball over the line in a scramble for a belated share of the points.

Recently the students have had a sticky spell, after the Grange game they drew 2-2 with Watsonians, were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Grange, lost 6-3 to Western, then finally beat Dunfermline Carnegie 8-1.

But Hamish Imrie`s young charges are into the top four mix with Clydesdale and Watsonians.

Western`s coach Vishal Marwaha will be hoping for a Grange slip-up as they are at home to a Clydesdale side they beat 8-2 in November, here there were hat-tricks for Rob Harwood and Andrew McConnell with Jack Mackenzie picking up a double. The Auchenhowie side still seem in good form, two weeks ago they beat Edinburgh University 6-3, McConnell got four this time, and FMGM Monarchs 9-0.

However, Clydesdale have won their last three outings since losing heavily to Western – so it could be a close one.

Clydesdale are presently in fourth place but that could be under jeopardy if Watsonians can see off Inverleith and leapfrog the Titwood side. The Edinburgh outfit are on a four match unbeaten league run with set piece expert Dan Coultas popping in the goals.

Inverleith are in sixth place, four points adrift of Watsonians, they have done well to make the top six courtesy of a 4-1 win at Uddingston, but have yet to take any points from the other sides in the top echelon.

The race for the top four places could be interesting as only two points separate Edinburgh University, Clydesdale and Watsonians.

And so to the lower six. Here relegation is the main issue.

The team finishing bottom will be automatically relegated to the National League next season.

And in the women`s league that is occupied by Dundee Wanderers who are four points behind Gordonians – ironically Saturday`s opponents in Aberdeen.

There could be little hope for the Taysiders if they fail to win in the North East. Last time out in Dundee ended in a 1-1 draw, Wanderers only point of the campaign, Ruth Cox opened for the home side and a minute later Ella Ritchie levelled for the Aberdonians.

Although Gordonians have gone through a rough spell recently, the incentive for them is that three points on Saturday could lift them above Inverleith to a safer environment in tenth spot.

So what of Inverleith – well they are away to Grange in an Edinburgh derby. Grange did win the earlier head to head 2-1, Becky Mill and Heather Croll were on target for them that day. A similar result could consign Inverleith to 11th spot and the play-off relegation spot.

The final match here is between Hillhead, disappointed no doubt to lose out on a top six place, and Uddingston with the top of the lower six on the menu.

There is no doubting the game-of-the-day in the men`s lower competition, the bottom of the table clash between ESM and FMGM Monarchs in Edinburgh.

The stakes are high here – an ESM win would leave the Taysiders a little detached at the bottom, but if they were to win the struggle to avoid the relegation places could then engulf Monarchs, ESM, Dunfermline Carnegie and even Kelburne. But Monarchs have struggled in their first exposure to the top flight with only one point and went down 3-1 in the earlier fixture with Andrew Brogdon, Ed May and Jamie Hogarth scoring for ESM.

In addition, the Edinburgh side will take heart from their 3-2 win over Hillhead in the Scottish Cup and now they are in the semi-finals for the first time. They play second tier Grove Menzieshill – and could conceivably make the final – that would be an accolade indeed.

But it can be suspected that avoiding relegation is the real target for the latter part of this season.

ESM Captain Jack Collister took an optimistic view of proceedings and the future.

“We’ve got a young squad, learning with each game. We’ve played some really good hockey in the last few games and take confidence from how we performed in the cup against Hillhead and in the league game against Uddingston. Hopefully we can take these positive experiences into the last five league games as well as continuing our cup run. We’d be proud to stay up in the Premiership and also reach a cup final.”

Elsewhere, Hillhead are at home to a Kelburne side that are not out of the relegation woods with only seven points to date – three more on Saturday would certainly ease the pressure further.

In the final outing Uddingston, currently in eighth place, are at home to Dunfermline Carnegie whose five point total is perilously close to the relegation zone.

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