The business end of this season`s indoor division 1

This weekend`s indoor division 1 fixtures fall into two parts. The first four games of the day are the last remaining pool matches to decide final positions in the table – although much has already been decided. The afternoon session starts with the two semi-finals, then a game between the teams that finished third in their pool, followed by the fourth placed sides fighting to avoid relegation, and finally a 3/4 place play-off involving the losing semi-finalists.

There is no room for error now in the afternoon encounters – they are one-off matches played to a finish where previous league form and positions mean for very little. It is the side that performs on the day that takes away the prize.

However, Scotland`s preparations for the World Cup Qualifier could have an effect on this weekend`s action. The women`s international players have not been in evidence indoors in 2026, and in the case of Watsonians, not at all. So no change there. The men`s internationals have continued to play but this weekend the Scots travel to Cardiff to play Wales in build-up games and some indoor players are selected. Western Wildcats could be worst affected losing three but Grange and Inverleith may also be without a player for the indoor.

The top of Pool A in the women`s competition is already decided, Clydesdale Western are top with a perfect record and they will be joined in the afternoon`s semi-finals by Inverleith.

But the relegation issue is not – Hillhead and Dundee Wanderers share three points with the latter having a slightly better goal difference. So their fate will be decided in the morning – Wanderers take on Clydesdale, perhaps a rather daunting task, while Hillhead play Inverleith. Points are the route to safety, but that failing it may be finally resolved by goal difference.  So there is a lot to play for to avoid the relegation play-off.

Pool B is a little more complex – there are three teams, Watsonians, Wildcats and GHK, vying for two semi-final spots. Watsonians will be hoping to top the pool despite losing to Wildcats last Sunday, they still retain a three point advantage. But they play a GHK side that are on a bit of a roll after back-to-back wins over Grange and then Wildcats, so don`t look to be any pushover.   Wildcats go up against Grange who have yet to take a point, and might have the intention to boost their goal difference.

Whoever comes second in Pool B has the unenviable task of ending Clydesdale`s current unbeaten run, something that Watsonians, Wildcats or GHK have failed to achieve so far – but it is a cup-tie scenario and you never know. Inverleith are enjoying one of their best indoor seasons in a long while and did beat GHK in the league but lost narrowly to both Wildcats and Watsonians.

Close affairs are anticipated at both semi-finals.

So what is already decided in the men`s competition and what is still up for grabs in the morning`s last pool matches?

In Pool A nothing is still live – Western Wildcats are top of the tree, and they are joined in the semi-finals by Grange. Dundee Wanderers are third and Uddingston are at the foot – nothing will change after Wildcats take on Grange and Dundee Wanderers play Uddingston in the morning session.

In Pool B Inverleith and Grove Menzieshill have both qualified for the semi-finals, but who will finish top is still to be decided. With one game left the Edinburgh side lead by two points and with a much better goal difference, and play third placed Clydesdale. In the league Inverleith were convincing 8-1 winners over the Dale, so a similar outcome on Saturday morning would suit coach Stuart Neave. But then again the Titwood side are playing to stave off a relegation situation, so should be up for it.

As Menzieshill`s clash with Watsonians follows on both sides will already know their fate or what they have to do. If still live, Menzieshill will have to win to overtake Inverleith, and Watsonians will probably have to do the same to avoid the bottom relegation-threatened spot.  At the moment the latter trail Clydesdale by a single point and a slightly poorer goal difference – so it is tight at the bottom.

The semi-finals are difficult to predict at this stage as the actual matches are not known. But in the league Wildcats scored an 11-2 win over Menzieshill and drew with Inverleith – but that was with their international players – while Grange lost to both sides in earlier encounters.

At the other end, it looks as if Uddingston will face off against either Clydesdale or Watsonians to avoid the immediate drop. The Lanarkshire side lost narrowly 4-3 to the former and drew 3-3 with the latter – so there doesn`t seem much in this by the looks of it.

 

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