After two games there were three teams with a perfect record – Watsonians, ESM Lions and Grange, so did they retain that accolade today?
Grange were first up away to Dundee Wanderers and won 3-2, but only with a bit of a struggle. As yesterday, it was Livio Belotti who gave the Edinburgh side an early lead. But in the third quarter the Taysiders scored twice through Finlay Wright and Mark Harley to reverse the advantage. The pendulum swung back in Grange`s favour in the end, Austrian Clemens Rusjnak levelled at a penalty corner to be followed by the winner from 16-year-old Angus Mo.
Watsonians also preserved their 100% record at Titwood with a 4-0 win over Clydesdale. Penalty corner conversion was a feature – Danny Cain scored twice while Gabe Tenner was also on target from the set piece, then Adam Carter completed the scoring from open play.
ESM Lions remained a member of the triumvirate at the top with a four goal win at Inverleith. An even first half was only broken by a spot conversion by Jack Adams. The second half had more goals and cards, Cameron Ede completed a successful weekend with another couple while Elliot Sabdison ended the goal tally with a tidy finish.
But the biggest score of the day rests with Western Wildcats twelve goal mauling of St Andrews University. The chief mauler was captain Rob Harwood with five…all from open play, Fraser Moran bagged four, Iain McFadden got a couple while Cameron Moran completed the scoring.
Edinburgh University set out their stall for the season with a 9-1 win away to Hillhead. Arthur Owens topped with a hat-trick followed by two goals each for Jamie Golden, Declan Bradley and Keir Robb.
In the final game on the card Uddingston showed a bit of form with their second win of the weekend, 2-0 at Grove Menzieshill with Anup Valmiki and Max Strachan finding the net.
The women`s top match of the day saw Edinburgh University score a narrow 3-2 win over GHK. It`s only fair to say that GHK have had the start to the season from Hell with Clydesdale Western, Watsonians and now Edinburgh in their opening three games. The students raced into a three goal lead at the interval, Katie Brett opened with a powerful strike, Dina Finn doubled the tally on her debut, and Cat Nelli added a third from a narrow angle. But back came the Glasgow side with goals from Hanna McKie and Joanne Boyle…yet that is where the comeback ended.
Watsonians were 4-1 winners at Grange and penalty corner expert Emily Dark was on song with a hat-trick, the other goal came from Fiona Burnet from open play. Kirsten Turnbull got Grange`s only counter with a deflection at a penalty corner.
Clydesdale Western found themselves 2-1 down to Inverleith in the second quarter, the strikes came from Elise Miller and Anna Anstead, but the potential upset was transitory as the Glasgow side emerged 7-2 victors in the end despite a series of saves from keeper Vicky Hansen. There were seven separate scorers for Clydesdale – Jika Nyirenda, Sophie Hinds, Ava Graham, Fiona Semple, Heather Howie, Anna Hoolaghan and finally Bronwyn Shields.
Perhaps the tightest game of the day was at Auchenhowie where Wildcats and St Andrews University shared six goals and the points. Wildcats went into an early lead through a penalty corner deflection from Alex Stuart, but back came the students through Reese Wearren for 1-1. Then the students romped into a 3-1 lead with penalty corner conversions from Wearren again and Charlotte Bosma…and that was half-time. Wildcats dominated the second half and Rachel Bain pulled the score back to 3-2 after good work from Olivia Finch and Lexi MacMillan. Just as the students believed that the three points was theirs, in the final five minutes Alex Stuart struck again at a penalty corner…and a draw was the final outcome.
Hillhead`s home fixture with Aberdeen University didn`t take place as one of the student`s vans broke down on route, leaving them with only eight players and no keeper.
