Watsonians retain the women`s Premiership title in a close run encounter

Watsonians are women`s Premiership champions again for the fifth time in a row – and they did it the hard way by going to Titwood to take on challengers Clydesdale Western and coming away with a 2-2 draw.  The Edinburgh side were already three points ahead and only needed a draw to grasp the title…and that is exactly what they did.

But it was Clydesdale, needing a win to grasp the title, who were in front at the interval with Jika Nyirenda putting them in front at a penalty corner.   The lead was transient, in the second half Watsonians got their noses in front with a penalty corner strike by Emily Dark followed by an open play goal from Fiona Burnet for a 2-1 lead.   With seven minutes to go Clydesdale`s Jenny Eadie levelled at another set piece…leading to a nervy final encounter.

Clydesdale replaced their keeper with another outfield player to rescue the match and had a flurry of penalty corners, but the champions managed to survive to take the honours.

Watsonians` coach Keith Smith recounted: “We were not at our best this season, especially in the first half, but with determination and grit we stayed the course and are delighted to retain the Premiership title.  It was a very even game today and either side could have won, but we took our chances.  Clydesdale pushed us hard but we did just enough, yet Clydesdale could so easily have won the game.”

Edinburgh University held on to third spot in the table after a 1-1 draw at rivals GHK, Kirsten Murison scored for the students at a penalty corner while Sophie Byrne got GHK`s goal.

In the other top flight contest it was also 1-1 between Wildcats and St Andrews University, Olivia Finch scored for the former while Amy Edgar replied for the students.

In the lower echelons Glasgow University were 4-1 winners over Inverleith and Uddingston scored the only goal at Grange.  Bottom side Aberdeen University finally got their first point in a 1-1 draw with Hillhead – but it didn`t prevent their relegation.   Bethany Leitch scored for the students at a penalty corner and then Zoe Nicol answered for Hillhead after a goal-line scramble.

Fourth place in the men`s Premiership and a spot in the play-offs was up for grabs, and this is how it went.

Uddingston and ESM Lions were level on points with the latter two goals to the good.   That`s how close it was.

Uddingston were first up at high noon against Grange.  It started well for the Lanarkshire side, in only seven minutes Angus Sinclair put them ahead at a penalty corner…and that is how it stood until the fourth quarter.   Schoolboy Angus Fletcher levelled for Grange with a reverse stick shot close to the bye-line, but with ten minutes to go Finn Halliday finished off a breakaway to put Uddy 2-1 ahead.   Just as the crucial three points seemed to be heading towards Bothwell Castle Andy Wallace forced home the ball at a goal-line scramble to secure a share of the spoils.

Uddingston`s disappointment was soon dissipated when the news filtered through that rivals ESM Lions had gone down 8-3 to Western Wildcats…thus confirming Uddy`s place in the top four.   The Lions were crushed by hat-tricks from Iain McFadden and Rob Harwood while the other two emanated from Adam Mackenzie for a convincing win…but only in the second half as the score was only 3-2 at the interval, Theo Wood and Jamie Hogarth scored for the Lions.

The cup final rehearsal between Edinburgh University and Watsonians provided little in the way of clues as the sides finished 3-3.   Keir Robb with a double and Ollie Wilson scored for the students while it was penalty corners all round for Watsonians through Charlie Jack, Gabe Tenner and Danny Cain.

There were lost of goals in the lower pool.  The Inverleith v Clydesdale clash produced ten, although seven belonged to the latter.   They were all individual scorers – that is Joel Reid, Jack Nairn, Nicholas Richmond, Kyle Bannerman, Ethan Robertson, Luke Bannerman and Euan Lindsay while Kaze Cordero, Kyle Taylor and Thomas Barton replied for the Edinburgh side.   And so Clydesdale finish top of the lower table.

Hillhead went to Dundee to take on Wanderers and came away with a 3-3 draw, but the latter remain in the relegation play-off spot.  Murray Ross with a tap-in at a scramble along with two penalty corner conversions from Jackson Cory-Duff were on target for the Glasgow side while Mark Hartley, Blair Frail and Nathen Szwejkowski replied for the Taysiders.

Also on Tayside Grove Menzieshill moved level with Hillhead after a 3-0 win over relegated St Andrews University, the scorers were Luke Cranney with a double in the first half followed by a second half tap in by Brian McGarrity.

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