Watsonians and Grange stay in pole position with victories in the Premiership

The game of the day at Peffermill was as tight as the 3-2 score line suggests, but it was women’s champions Watsonians who collected the three points and remain top of the pack with a three point lead.

In true sporting spirit Watsonians coach Keith Smith said: “It was a pretty even contest, it was frantic and scrappy at times, but always very competitive. To be honest I believe University deserved at least a point, but it was the first real challenge either side had faced this season.”

An open play goal from Ailsa Small opened for Watsonians in the second quarter but Edinburgh University then moved into a 2-1 lead by the third quarter. With nine minutes left Emily Dark levelled at a penalty corner and inside the final three minutes Beth Dodds stole the points with a late winner.

Photo by David McCarthy

A little bit of musical chairs in the top six with Western Wildcats moving from fourth into second spot after a 4-0 win over Hillhead. The Cats opened the scoring in the second quarter, good build-up play from Lucy Findlay and Olivia Finch set up Rachel Bain for a lovely deflection…and that was the score at the interval.

The Cats consolidated their advantage with two more strikes in the third quarter through Lucy Macmillan and Olivia Finch. The fourth goal came in the final quarter with another from Rachel Bain.

GHK did move up to third place but only by a single point after being held to a goalless draw by a plucky Glasgow University side – their first point of the season. GHK captain Carly Bisset said: “It was very frustrating as we dominated the possession and had loads of chances but couldn`t convert.”

Clydesdale Western, who had no fixture today, temporarily slip back to fifth.

In the lower echelons Uddingston hauled themselves up to seventh after a 2-1 win over bottom side Dundee Wanderers. It was the Taysiders who took the lead in 16 minutes, a long ball out of defence by Sam Sangster eventually found its way to Amy Rowan who finished off the move. The Lanarkshire side recovered and two penalty conversions from Caterina Nelli and Courtney Kerr gave them the three points and left the Taysiders disappointed not to take something from the contest.

Finally, Gordonians lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win over Inverleith at Countesswells. Anna Warnock opened for the Aberdonians in the first quarter but Jen Tait levelled for the Edinburgh side in the fourth. However, the winner dame from a late penalty corner strike from former Scotland player Leigh Fawcett.

There is a slight shuffling of the pack at the top of the men`s Premiership, but Grange are still in control after a 9-1 win at Dunfermline Carnegie.

The Fifers made the classic error of taking the lead in only six minutes through Andrew Doyle… and then came the retribution. Rory McCann, Joe Waterston and Dylan Bean made it 3-1 by the interval. The second half saw a stream of goals through Chris Cook, Murray Banks, McCann and Bean again, David Nairn from the spot and finally Jacob Tweedie.

Photo by David McCarthy

Free-scoring Edinburgh University now have second place on their own after seeing off Hillhead 9-0 at Peffermill, here top scorer was Declan Bradley with a hat-trick.

Western now move up to third in the table after a 5-0 win over Watsonians. It was three at the interval, Jack Mackenzie opened with a shot into the roof of the net, Jonny Christie added a second and Mackenzie scored his own second of the match. Rob Harwood stole the show in the second half with a double, the final goal came after Andrew McConnell beat three defenders, chipped the ball over the keeper and his resulting pass was buried by the Western captain.

Clydesdale kept their unbeaten record but were held to a 3-3 draw by ninth placed Uddingston at Titwood, the result is that the Dale fall back to fourth. The home side seemed to be cruising with two goals in the opening ten minutes through Steven McKnight and Neil Morton-Lloyd. But Alex McGregor pulled one back for Uddingston with a chip in at the back post. Andrew Allan made it 3-1 at a penalty corner only for Louis Gardner to make it 3-2 at the interval.

After five penalty corner failures Uddingston finally drew level when Hamish Robson sunk a rebound at the sixth award for a share of the points.

Inverleith are on the move, they move up to sixth in the table with a 7-0 win over FMGM Monarchs, the highlight was five goals from Charlie Jack, the others came from Kyle Taylor and Rory Steedman.

Captain Ed Iffla said: “It was a top quality performance from start to finish, a perfect response to last weekend`s disappointment.”

In the final match on the card Kelburne moved up to seventh after a 5-1 win over bottom side ESM, Jack Collister got the Edinburgh side`s consolation.

 

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