The women`s top Premiership game of the day at Titwood ended with a 3-1 win for home side Clydesdale Western over GHK. The result keeps Clydesdale on the same points as Watsonians but with an inferior goal difference. Emma McGregor, Ali Howie and Anna Winter were on target for Clydesdale while Joanne Boyle replied for GHK. But GHK slip back to fourth in the table.
But there seems to be no stopping Watsonians, they emerged 4-1 winners over St Andrews University, and they hold on to pole position in the table with a sizeable goal difference over Clydesdale. There was a goal in each quarter for the champions for Milly Berndes-Cade, Beth McKenzie, Sarah Jamieson and McKenzie again. Near the end Liz Agatucci got the students consolation.
Edinburgh University remain in fourth place, albeit they have played a game less, after a 3-1 win over Grange. Zara Kennedy opened for the students following a quick counter-attack but Grange replied with a penalty corner conversion from Jen Cain. In the third quarter Connie Roxburgh`s shot deflected off a defender and looped over the keeper for 2-1. Grange had the chance to equalise and keep up their draw record but their spot effort was well saved by Orla Tait. The result was finally sealed with five minutes remaining with a penalty corner conversion by Kirsten Murison.
Unfortunately that`s the end of Grange`s draw-induced unbeaten record and they drop down to seventh in the table.
Grange are overtaken by Glasgow University who were 4-1 winners at Hillhead, for whom Anna McIntosh got their consolation.
Western Wildcats are still top of the tree in the men’s Premiership after a 6-0 win over Hillhead at Auchenhowie. It was 2-0 at the interval with an open play strike from Rob Harwood followed by a penalty corner breakdown conversion from Jamie Golden that flow into the bottom corner. Golden completed his hat-trick early in the second half to put the Wildcats four up before Tommy Austin and Cameron Banks with a deflection at a cross from Harwood brought the scoring to an end.
Grange were also convincing winners, they fired in ten without reply against a young Inverleith side. It took 15 minutes for the Premiership champions to edge in front with a penalty corner conversion from Robbie Croll, thereafter it was a procession of goals. Matt Murphy got a hat-trick, Croll scored another penalty corner, Dylan Bean scored twice from open play and from the spot, and the others came from David Nairn, Jacob Tweedie and Kyle Reid.
Watsonians are still there up with Wildcats and Grange unbeaten on 15 points, but they are cutting it fine with a slender 1-0 win over Uddingston. The game trundled on goalless until the final quarter when the Edinburgh side were awarded a penalty and Dan Coultas duly converted from the spot for the three points.
Edinburgh University were also convincing winners on the day, they beat Clydesdale 5-0 to keep in touch at the top. The scorers were individuals, Declan Bradley, Tom Cahalin, Kyle Flockhart, Jonny Bradley and Arthur Owens.
ESM Lions roared into their third victory in a row with a narrow 3-2 win over Dundee Wanderers and consequently retain their sixth place with a five point gap from Hillhead. James Stables put ESM ahead with a rebound strike and that is how it stood at the interval despite Wanderers failing from the spot. After the break Stables fired the ball into the bottom corner to double the tally, but Wanderers came back with a goal from Oscar Brown. Callum Ross levelled at 2-2 but in the closing minutes Jack Collister got a final touch at a penalty corner to secure the three points for ESM.
In the lower reaches Grove Menzieshill recorded a victory, they were 2-0 home winners against Dunfermline Carnegie. After a goalless first half Grove Menzieshill`s Connor Chapman opened the scoring with a reverse stick shot into the roof of the net. The second came late on, a penalty corner shot rebounded off a post and Findlay Duncan tucked it away for the crucial three points, a result that takes the Taysiders up to seventh in the table. Grove Menzieshill coach Gav Byers remarked: “Our penalty corner defence team did very well today and ultimately helped us to win the game.”
