Slight change at the top of the men`s Premiership

The prediction that the top three would retain their dominance in the men`s Premiership was almost correct – Western Wildcats and Edinburgh University both won but Watsonians were held to a draw by ESM Lions. As a consequence the Edinburgh students are still in pole position but Wildcats purr into second spot on goal difference from Watsonians, and they have a game in hand.

At Auchenhowie Western Wildcats were 4-2 winners over Grange to maintain their challenge for the Premiership title. But it was Grange who took the lead through a penalty corner conversion from Robbie Croll that seemed to take a deflection.  However, the lead did not last long with an equaliser from Cameron Moran and then a follow-up strike from captain Rob Harwood for a 2-1 lead.  18-year-old newcomer Ben McLellan advanced the score to 3-1 before Grange pulled one back from the spot from David Nairn.

The second half was an even affair and devoid of goals until Cammy Moran added a fourth for Wildcats at the back post following a pass from Ben McLellan.

Leaders Edinburgh University certainly won 2-1 at Uddingston but they had to work hard for their money.  And again Jamie Golden was the catalyst.  He opened the scoring for the students at a penalty corner…and that is how the score stood until the closing minutes when the ever-reliable Finn Halliday levelled from the spot.  And just as a draw looked favourite with only a few seconds remaining up stepped Golden again to send another penalty corner power flick into the roof of the net for a narrow, but important, victory.

Perhaps unexpectedly Watsonians dropped a couple of points with a 3-3 draw against ESM Lions – justifying their place in the top six.   In this ding-dong affair Guy Rowson with a couple and Tommy Orr were on target for Watsonians while Jack Collister from the spot and two from Cameron Ede levelled proceedings for the Lions.

In the lower Premiership pool, perhaps pride of place should go to St Andrews University, at the close of the campaign before the winter break they looked dead and buried with no points at all, but taking inspiration from Houdini they have salvaged a lifeline to safety with today`s 4-1 win over Dundee Wanderers. Now the situation is that the students have six points and are now only one point adrift of Wanderers with three games left. The scorers were Jacob Anderson with a double and Murdo Macdonald and Andrew Betty.

Clydesdale are creeping further away from the relegation zone after a share of the points with Grove Menzieshill at Titwood.   The Dale scorers were Joel Reid, Charlie Feeney and Jack Nairn. The Taysiders were always chasing the game, going into the final quarter they were two down before Murdo Kiddie pulled one back from close range.  Then Menzieshill found themselves 3-1 in arrears and this time Alfie Bonnar rounded the keeper to reduce the deficit again to one.   And then with less than two minutes to go Connor Chapman deflected a cross into the roof of the net for the belated equaliser.

However, Hillhead retain pole position in the Premiership`s lower echelon after a 5-3 win at Inverleith, a result that leaves the Edinburgh side perilously close to the danger zone.  Andrew Black put Hillhead a goal up at the interval, and just after Amar Sagoo added a second when he was left unmarked in the circle after a long scooped ball.  Inverleith retaliated to go 3-2 up with goals from Hamish Norval (2) and Finlay Duncan.   But the recover didn`t last long as Jackson Corry Duff levelled and then Matt  Carder added the winning touches with a rebound strike followed by a first timed sweep.

In the only women`s top pool Premiership match on offer GHK moved up to third in the table with a single goal win over St Andrews University, and crucially they are now five points ahead of the students.   The only goal of the game came from their top goal scorer Lucy Williamson.

In the lower pool Glasgow University pulled themselves further to safety with a 4-1 win over bottom side Aberdeen, Molly McKibben scored a late goal for the latter.

And in the final match Uddingston were 4-1 home winners over Inverleith.

 

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