Watsonians and Wildcats stay on course with successful results in the Premiership

Women`s Premiership champions Watsonians embarked on the perilous trip to meet Western Wildcats at Auchenhowie and came out of the den with a solid 4-1 victory. The Edinburgh side led 1-0 at the interval courtesy of a penalty corner conversion by Emily Dark.

The lead was extended two minutes into the second half through Ailsa Small. A whiff of comeback emerged when Wildcats` Kate Holmes scored a penalty corner at the start of the fourth quarter, but the champions confirmed the three points with late goals from Katie Crawford and Heather Tait.

Clydesdale kept up their winning sequence with a seven goal win without reply over Dundee Wanderers. Emma McGregor got two while the others came from Holly Steiger, Anna Hoolaghan, Rosie Tudor, Fran Lonergan and Annabel Ballantyne.

GHK made it a hat-trick of victories after seeing off newly promoted Grange. Player/coach Fiona Semple led from the front with a clever reverse sweep into the net from close range.

Then came a second from Lucy Williamson, she won possession from a free hit and found the net with a reverse shot from the top of the circle. The same player then added a third with a direct strike at a penalty corner. Heather Croll scored a consolation for Grange in the fourth quarter.

Edinburgh University went to Uddingston and came away with a convincing 5-1 victory. For the second time in the weekend Hanna McKie scored a double while the other goals came from Katie Robertson, Jika Nyirenda and Sophie Hinds.

Western Wildcats stay at the top of the tree in the men’s Premiership with a solid 4-0 win over Hillhead at Auchenhowie. Against a well organised Hillhead outfit the champions were restricted to a 1-0 lead at the interval, the goal came from a penalty corner strike by Andrew McConnell. The outcome was effectively sealed when Rob Harwood added a second from open play in the third quarter. The icing on the cake came towards the end of the contest with two penalty corner conversions from McConnell again and finally Nikki Humphreys.

Grange v Uddingston men – photo by Dave Reid

Grange kept very much in touch at the top with a comfortable 5-1 home win over Uddingston. The Edinburgh side took only seven minutes to take the lead when Fraser Heigh sunk a penalty corner with a direct strike. That was quickly followed by a close range finish from Alan Johnston. And by half-time Grange were three up and coasting with a reverse stick effort by Duncan Riddell from the top of the circle.

Early in the second half Heigh added a fourth when he scrambled the ball over the line and that was followed by another close range finish from Johnston. Uddingston did manage a late consolation when Mateusz Stoko converted from the spot.

Grange manager Martin Shepherdson said: “We were always in control in the game, but it was disappointing that we allowed Uddingston back into the game later on.”

But both Edinburgh University and Clydesdale dropped their first points of the campaign when they drew 3-3 at Titwood. The game pulsated backwards and forwards – Clydesdale went two up through Jamie Green and Antony Small, then the students went into a 3-2 lead with a double from Keir Robb – his sixth of the weekend – and Declan Bradley, and near the end a penalty corner strike from Andrew Allan ensured a share of the points – so never a dull moment.

Watsonians won their second game of the weekend with a 3-1 victory at ESM, Roddy Craig scored twice while Sam Knight got the other from the spot. Captain Tom Borthwick said: “We’re pleased with a hard earned six point weekend.”

Inverleith sprung on to the scene with a seven goal victory at Kelburne. Here there were two goals each for Charlie Jack and Stuart Hatton while the others emanated from Livio Belotti, Derek Salmond and James Stuart.

Captain Ed Iffla remarked: “It was a strong reaction after a disappointing result yesterday. It was an excellent performance across the pitch and pretty dominant from start to finish.”

 

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