Some Premiership sides fell by the wayside in today`s Scottish Cup, they were playing their peers, but teams from lower divisions weren’t able to produce any upsets this time round.
In the tie of the round in the women`s Cup Clydesdale Western continued their progress this season with a 4-1 win over fellow top six side GHK at Old Anniesland. Clydesdale seemed to be in control with strikes from Millie Steiger, Jenna Morton, Annabelle Ballantyne and Heather O`Brien, Lucy Williamson replied for GHK in the third quarter. But it was a tense affair with a flurry of cards to both teams towards the end after the GHK coach took the gamble of replacing her keeper with an additional outfield player, but it failed to change the course of the contest.
Cup holders Watsonians were 24-0 winners over Stirling Wanderers – Sarah Jamieson scored eight, Milly Berndes-Cade seven and Katie MacCallum a hat-trick.
Hillhead had little difficulty in seeing off Grove Menzieshill at Upper Windyedge, their five goals came from Olivia Robertson, Julia Baldwin, Rachel Osborne, Alex Burdon and Emma Blackstock.
Highland, from the Championship 1 league, travelled to the lion`s den at Auchenhowie and left seven goals lighter. There were doubles for Kate Holmes and Kaz Cuthbert for the Cats while Lucy Findlay, Megan Cox and Jen Veitch pitched in with singles.
Glasgow University were nine goal winners over ESM, Lucy Smith got two while Emily Simmers, Ciara Brown, Dara Devine, Ailsa Phimister, Natasha Glasson, Grace Drummond and Ciara Forgie all got one each.
Perhaps the closest clash of the day was at Uddingston where the home side were 4-3 winners over Inverleith. The home side were always ahead after Hasya Saifudden and Zafirah Aziz gave them a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. By half-time the score had advanced to 3-2 with Olivia Mullen scoring for Uddingston. Inverleith levelled at 3-3, then the home side missed from the spot, but finally Lucy Hogarth provided the winner.
Grange also progressed to the quarter-finals with a six goal win at Dundee University. Tallulah McMorris was top scorer with a hat-trick, the others came from Kirstie Buchan, Anika Miedema and Kirsten Turnbull.
In the battle of the second strings GHK were 1-0 winners at Glasgow University. And there was not fairy tale progression for Clydesdale Wester`s third string as they lost 2-1 to Edinburgh Hockey Club.
Men`s Premiership leaders Grange finished the first half of the season with a perfect record after a comfortable 4-1 win over last season`s cup finalists ESM at Fettes. An Aidan McQuade penalty corner strike was all that divided the sides in the first half. But Grange added to their tally in the second, there was a double for Dylan Bean while teenager Kyle Reid got the other, Ryan McCurry got ESM`s consolation.
In another all-Premiership contest Watsonians put six past Dundee Wanderers, here there were doubles for Danny Cain at penalty corners and John Martin, Dan Coultas scored from open play as did Nathan Ligget.
In the third all-Premiership contest Clydesdale went to Uddingston and came away with a convincing 5-2 win. On target for the visitors were Liam King, Euan Anderson, Stuart Eadie, Andrew McAllan and David Clark while Craig Speirs and Tedd Campbell replied for Uddingston.
Inverleith went up to Aberdeen to face a Gordonians side that are in the top rungs of the National League and came away with a 4-2 win, courtesy of goals from Charlie Jack, Ben Turtle, Kyle Taylor and Tom Barton. Inverleith captain Kyle Taylor remarked: “It was a little bit sloppy today but good to get the result and move into the next round, finishing this half of the season on a high.”
In Dundee Grove Menzieshill saw off the students from St Andrews by the same 4-2 scoreline. The Taysiders` goals came from John Donald at a penalty corner, a deflection by Cammy Paton, another penalty corner conversion by Ollie James and a back post goal from Murdo Kiddie.
Kelburne reversed their recent league form with a 4-0 win over Strathclyde University, Luke Bannerman, Andrew Barnett, Scott Love and Martin McIntosh were the scorers.
Finally Hillhead were also on Tayside and emerged with a three goal win over FMGM Monarchs. Hillhead`s Matt Carder continued his recent fine scoring form with a deflection at the far post for the opener. And that is how the scoring stood until the final quarter when Andrew Sinclair added a second at a penalty corner and then Andrew Black sealed the tie from the spot.