Wildcats purring along

PEREGRINES CUP

This is a double header weekend for most of the women`s
clubs in the Peregrines Cup, but a resurgent Western Wildcats have
a stern test of their renaissance with a home fixture against
champions Grove Menzieshill at Auchenhowie on Sunday.

Normally a side in and around the relegation zone, the Wildcats
have made a bright start to this season, they lead pool A  by
a point from VWS Dundee Wanderers and Glynhill Kelburne, with Grove
a further point adrift.   So far the Wildcats are
unbeaten, they beat an experimental Giffnock side 8-1 and fought
out draws against Wanderers (3-3) and Kelburne (2-2).

But coach Murray Laing if far from getting carried
away.   “The “good” start has to be put into perspective,
Giffnock have been decimated with regard to playing personnel,
Wanderers were without international players Vikki Bunce and Becky
Ward, while Kelburne was a game we should have lost, we really did
steal a point that day.”

Laing also remarked:  “We have taken a really relaxed view
of this competition and taking the pressure off seems to have
allowed the girls to play with a bit more freedom, as opposed to
the sometimes over-bearing prospect of always fighting
relegation.

“In addition, I also feel there is good team morale at the
moment, a direct result of not being in a battle for points week in
and week out.”     

Laing then put his head in the noose by naming the key players
who have emerged this season.   Former Hillhead player
Rachel Houghton has brought a new dimension to the forward line and
has developed a good understanding with Kirsty
Howe.    Laing sees the core of the team revolving
around Lucy McArthur in midfield and the two central defenders
Rachael Fergusson and Eliza Walker, along with the flair of Alex
Stuart and Jen Lennox.  “As individuals, these players may not
set the heather on fire, but as a unit they are an excellent
combination.”   Also mentioned in dispatches is new
goalkeeper Laurie Kirkland who had replaced Katy Anderssen between
the posts.

But Laing is nothing if not realistic.  “As for the Grove
game, we`ll wait and see, most if not all of the squad is
available, so it`s up to us to have the confidence to give it a
go.   Personally, I think Grove will have too much guile
and firepower.”

Laing sees the Peregrine`s Cup as a bit of a phoney war with
many of the sides hampered by the loss of their international
players, and he argues that the proof of the pudding for the
Wildcats will come with the league games when the top sides will be
at full strength and scrapping for a place in the top five.
(Auchenhowie @ 11.00)

Kelburne and Grove have a game in hand of Wildcats and on
Saturday clash head to head on Tayside.   Last season
Grove won the equivalent fixture 6-0, Louise Carroll notching a
hat-trick, but the Dundonians will have to do it this time without
their international players.  (DISC @ 14.30)  Giffnock
are on duty twice over this weekend, on Saturday they entertain
Dundee Wanderers  (Hutchesons` @ 14.00) and then play Kelburne
the following day.

Milne Craig Western seem to be running away with Pool B, full
points from their three games against CALA Edinburgh, Inverleith
and Grange to date.   On Sunday they entertain Edinburgh
University at Titwood and should collect another three points as
the students will be without Sam Judge, Sarah Robertson and newest
recruit Nikki Kidd – all on international duty.  (Titwood
@14.00)   Edinburgh will have a practice on Saturday
against Inverleith (Mary Erskine School @ 14.00), while CALA and
Grange clash the same day. (Meggetland @ 14.00).   The
other match on Sunday is the all-Edinburgh confrontation between
Inverleith and CALA. (Mary Erskine School @ 14.00)

There are no fixtures in the men`s Presidents Cup due to the
under 18 and under 16 inter-district tournament at Peffermill over
the weekend.

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