Grange moved to the apex of the men`s Premiership after a 4-0 win at Clydesdale – the champions are level with Western Wildcats and Watsonians on 18 points but lead the former by the slender margin of two goals. So effectively it is a three way tie at the top of the table after six games in the first session of games.
Grange were a goal up at the interval at Titwood with a second phase penalty corner conversion from former Clydesdale player David Nairn. In the third quarter Dylan Bean and Livio Belitio added two more to the Grange tally and in the final phase Nairn scored his own second to complete the victory.
Meanwhile at Bothwell Castle Western Wildcats were on the verge of dropping a couple of points as the score stood at 2-2 against a plucky Uddingston side. But with a last touch of the game Jamie Golden scored from the spot to secure the crucial three points. Earlier Amirul Halif had given the Lanarkshire side a goal lead at the interval. But back came the Wildcats with goals from Rob Harwood and Golden at a penalty corner, only for Alex McGregor to level again – and that is how it looked to finish until the Wildcats belated winner.
No such problems for third placed Watsonians who were 4-1 winners at Dunfermline Carnegie. Tommy Orr was their top scorer with a double while Matthew Leiper and Jamie Cochrane from the spot got the others, Jack Tweddle scored the Fifers consolation.
Edinburgh University remain two points behind the leaders after a 2-1 win at Hillhead. Arthur Owens opened for the students after ten minutes, and that is how the score stood until five minutes to go when Alex Wilson doubled their tally as Hillhead pressed for the equaliser. The Glasgow side did get their goal in the closing seconds through Murray Ross at close range after a bit of a scramble, but Edinburgh hung on for the points.
ESM`s winning roll now numbers four games after a 6-1 win over bottom side Inverleith, and they leapfrog Uddingston into fifth place. A double of penalty corner strikes by Olly Pillinger put ESM two up at the interval. A penalty corner conversion by Elliot Sandison made it three before Stuart Hatton pulled one back for Inverleith. ESM were not to be denied, Ethan Williams added a fourth, Scott Soutar scored with a tap in following a cross from Sam Armitage, and finally Jamie Hogarth completed the scoring.
And so to the Tayside derby – won 4-2 by Grove Menzieshill over rivals Dundee Wanderers. And they are consolidated at seventh in the table, while Wanderers remain pointless.
Grove Menzieshill took the early initiative and went two up through Chris McFadden and Albert Rowling after good work along the base line by Findlay Duncan. Frank Mulgrew pulled one back for Wanderers only for McFadden to restore Menzieshill`s two goal advantage. Wanderers` Callum Ross scored again but the result was sealed by another strike by Rowling after Connor Chapman had played the ball round the keeper.
With Watsonians game against Uddingston postponed Clydesdale Western took full advantage and moved into pole position in the women`s Premiership with a 5-2 win at Grange. The scorers were all individuals – Jen Eadie, Ava Graham, Rhiannon Carr, Emma McGregor and Millie Steiger were on target for the Titwood-based side while Izzy Alexander and Megan Forrester replied for the Edinburgh side.
Third spot in the Premiership changed hands again, this time GHK are back in the slot after seeing off Wildcats 3-1. GHK were one up at the interval with a strike from Hanna McKie. However, in the third quarter Kate Holmes levelled from a penalty corner. Then up stepped Lucy Williamson, she made it 2-1 for the home side and sealed GHK`s three points with a volley from the base line, and GHK continue their promising start to the season.
St Andrews University finally dragged themselves from lower reaches in somewhat dramatic fashion – an 8-0 win over Hillhead. Iona Syme was top scorer with a hat-trick, the others came from Liz Agatucci, Mary Kate Barbee, Fiona Hawkins, Bella Carrozza and Hanna Coull. The result is that the students have moved up from eleventh to eighth in the table.
Meanwhile in Malaysia Tommy Austin made his Great Britain under-21 debut in a 3-1 win over Australia in the opening match at the Sultan of Johor Cup – the Wildcats player came on as substitute after only two minutes. Also in the line-up was Scots keeper Calum Douglas who shared duties between the posts with England`s James Carleton.
