Tayside monopoly to continue

INDOOR NATIONAL LEAGUE  – 
WOMEN      BELLS SPORTS CENTRE IN
PERTH

It was a Tayside monopoly in last year`s indoor
campaign, Grove Menzieshill took the league title by three points
from Dundee Wanderers, then the latter won the knock-out cup after
beating CALA Edinburgh 8-2 in the final.

Will it be any different this coming
season?     Certainly the odds favour the
status quo.    And Kat Cameron, Grove`s captain, is
determined that her side achieve their potential.

“We want to perform consistently well throughout the league,
aiming to play to our potential in every game.   The
league will be a good preparation for Europe,” said Cameron.

“I think the main opposition will come from Wanderers and
Western, but I also think CALA will also take their good form shown
outdoors into the indoor league.”

Given the Dundee commitment to the indoor game, it is likely
that Wanderers will have the resources to mount the main challenge
to city rivals Grove. 

“Our aim is to win the league and the European play-off. 
We were very unlucky last year, especially with my injury,” said
international goalkeeper Carmin Dow.

There will be some changes in the Wanderers` line-up for the
coming campaign, missing will be Julie Bryce who is not playing at
all and Amy Rowan who has sustained a broken thumb.  
Playmaker Vikki Bunce is due to come back after missing last season
due to Great Britain commitments and Amanda Maxwell has jointed the
ranks.    Two very promising youngsters look set to
make a significant contribution to the Wanderers` cause this year,
Jessica Ross (16) and Charlotte Watson (14).

However, both Dundee sides should have a relatively simple start
to this season`s campaign as they play Western Wildcats and Granite
City Wanderers in Sunday`s opening encounters.

Milne Craig Western finished third last year, only a point
behind Wanderers and four adrift of Grove, and coach Neil Menzies
wants to try and win the league this season, but he highlighted a
problem facing the three top sides.

“I don`t know exactly who will be playing indoor hockey this
season.   With the demands on international players, some
may decide to take a break before what will be a hectic
2013,”   Menzies remarked.

Already Western will be two down, both Kareena Marshall and
Catriona Ralph will take time out to fully recover from injury, but
Menzies maintains that will provide more opportunity for others to
fill the breech.    The Glasgow side have
Inverleith and Glynhill Kelburne as opponents in their opening
games.

CALA, with no international players in the ranks, may be the
side to put pressure on the top three, as suggested by Grove`s Kat
Cameron.    The Edinburgh side finished fourth last
season, but were a long way back on points.    Yet
CALA did beat Grove 4-3 in the semi-final of the knock-out cup,
evidence of their progress, only to lose out 8-2 to Wanderers in
the ultimate match.

CALA also have Inverleith and Kelburne as their opening games,
six points here would give credibility to their intentions this
season.

It will be interesting to see if Kelburne can make any progress
this season, last year they finished fifth, two points behind
CALA.

It will be an interesting scenario at the foot of the table,
firstly the two second-string teams have departed, Granite City
Wanderers survived their first season in the top flight, and both
Inverleith and Western Wildcats have come up from the second
division.      It could be a cut-throat
business for survival this season.

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