UNIVERSITIES JOIN THE PREMIERSHIP FRAY IN A DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND.

There are now six university sides in the Premiership, an increase of two from last season, and they go in at the deep end with a double header weekend.

So what is in store for the newly promoted sides – St Andrews men have the daunting task of facing Grange on Saturday and then champions Western Wildcats the following day – that`s a challenge!  Aberdeen women have it a little easier on paper at home to Wildcats and then Hillhead in Glasgow.

But even with University Premiership veterans it is difficult to predict what this season`s form might be as players come and go as courses are started and finished.

And Edinburgh University men, who won their first domestic trophy with the Scottish Cup at the end of last season, start this season`s campaign in at the deep end…at home to champions Western Wildcats.    And in recent seasons results between these sides have tended to be fairly close, so we`ll see what happens at Peffermill on Saturday.    It may get a little easier for the students on Sunday away to Hillhead – but you never know.

The Edinburgh students, still under the coaching aegis of Neil Allan, are not only playing Western Wildcats in their opening game on Saturday, but have exchanged players with the Auchenhowie side – Jamie Golden goes to Peffermill while Iain McFadden moves in the opposite direction.  Neil also explained the departure of Clemens Probst to London and Ritchie McCluskey back to Grange.

In compensation the students have signed up Mylo Darley from London Wayfarers, Sam Dixon from Ben Rydding and Dunfermline Carnegie`s Josh Love.

So what about tackling Wildcats in the opening encounter, this is what Neil said: “It`s neither good or bad, we have to play every team in the league, so to me it doesn`t matter who we play and when we play them, we will prepare as normal and if the games last year are anything to go by it`s going to be a close and very competitive game.  We have a lot of respect for Western and their players, alongside being well coached by Vish.

“However, we don`t fear anyone in the league and feel we have the depth, and defensive and attacking capabilities to cause our opponents a lot of problems.”

So what are the students targets for the season, Neil briefly said: “In terms of objectives for the first half of the season, top six, then we can look further after that.   One game at a time.”

Edinburgh`s female students finished a slightly disappointing fourth in the Premiership table and didn`t qualify for Europe, but they did lift the Scottish Cup again.   They open away to Uddingston on Saturday but then have the perilous visit of GHK the following day.

An interesting development which has emerged this season is the appointment of Sam Judge as head coach at Watsonians men – it is reckoned that Sam will be the first female coach to a men`s Premiership outfit – that is, unless somebody knows different.   Sam is a former Scotland striker and a very experienced coach winning countless domestic titles along with European success with Edinburgh University women over a long period.

So what is behind this refreshing move.     We caught up with Sam and she gave the background.

“I work with Dan Coultas & Tom Swarbrick & they asked if I would be interested last season. But I felt I needed a break. Then by October I was chatting a lot with Dan and agreed to assist him for some games but it was a very casual involvement. At the end of last season they asked if I would consider  being head coach. Dan wanted to step down and just play. So after a conversation with Luke the captain, friends & family I said yes. I felt it was too good an opportunity to pass on. I had never coached men but really enjoyed working with the squad and felt like I could add to the group.”

So what does Sam think of her new charges?

“I think we have a lot of potential. We have added some quality players to the squad as we’re trying to have depth and make it a more competitive environment. The boys have a good mentality and work hard. They are an ambitious group and want to do well this season.”

No doubt Sam will be looking for six points this weekend against Inverleith on Saturday and a trip to Clydesdale the following day.

What about the other sides?  It is a pointless exercise making predictions after only one game, or in some cases not games,.   However, in the men`s competition on the opening day there were sizeable wins for Wildcats and Watsonians, Grange left it very late to grasp the three points, and there were also victories for ESM Lions and Inverleith, and finally Clydesdale were unlucky not to take a point.   For the women, Clydesdale Western and Wildcats were convincing winners and Grange won by the only goal.     That is it so far.

However, in the women competition Watsonians start the defence of their title away to GHK, not an easy assignment, and then at home to Grange.

Keith Smith continues as coach and gave details about some changes to the line-up for the season.    Away are Jess Garden on a scholarship in the US, Amy Clark has moved to Edinburgh University, Genevieve Hussell to London while both Anni Arthur and Sarah McKay have gone to Australia for a sabbatical from work.   On the plus side, keeper Iona Colquhoun has joined from Grange and Millie Skidmore from Wildcats, Ellie Rutherford has returned after completing her degree in the US, and finally there is promotion for youngster Sophie Davidson after an impressive year in the second string.

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