The road to the Gala Finals and Europe
ROUND 1
In another ding-dong battle between Watsonians and Clydesdale Western, for the second time this season it was the Edinburgh side that emerged with a narrow victory, this time the odd goal in seven. And the winner came in the final minute through a penalty corner conversion by Katie Stott.
The foundation to Watsonians` triumph came in the opening five minutes with a quick-fire double from Sarah Jamieson. But by the interval it was back to all-square with penalty corner strikes from Clydesdale`s Lucy Williamson and Fiona Semple.
Midway through the second half Clydesdale took the lead for the first time through Laura Paul but that was followed by a set piece goal from Watsonians` Emily Dark for 3-3 – and then on to the late winner for the champions.
Watsonians are well and truly in next weekend`s final, Clydesdale will have to wait as Wildcats moved to within four points after seeing off Dundee Wanderers 4-2 in the second top four contest.
Wanderers took an early lead through Isla McRobbie but the Cats had clawed their way to a 2-1 lead by the interval with goals from Kate Holmes and Mhairi McGregor. The same two players then put the Cats into a commanding 4-2 lead before Sophie Mason notched a consolation for the Dundonians.
ROUND 2
Clydesdale Western`s qualification for next weekend`s championship final, delayed by the Watsonians defeat, was achieved in their second outing with a 7-4 win over third placed Wildcats.
Clydesdale galloped into a convincing 6-2 lead by the interval with Laura Paul getting two with the other goals coming from Millie Steiger, Tamilla Matchett, Lucy Willianson and Fiona Semple. Kate Holmes and Mhairi McGregor replied for the Cats. The second half belonged to the Cats with Lucy Findlay and Holmes again taking their tally to four but Laura Paul stifled any chance of a comeback with a late goal that brought about her own hat-trick.
Watsonians continued with their perfect record after a comfortable 6-1 win over Dundee Wanderers who will remain in fourth spot. The champions were 3-1 up at the interval through Sarah Jamieson, Georgia Jones and Sarah McKay with Ruth Cox getting one for the Taysiders. Watsonians got another three in the second half with Jamieson and McKay scoring again and teenager Jess Garden scoring the last one.
ROUND 3
The final round of games in the top pool were far from competitive. It started with Watsonians 12-0 win over Wildcats – Sarah Jamieson scored a hat-trick and there were two each for Emily Dark, Jen Hussell and Sarah McKay.
The trend continued when Clydesdale were 13-0 winners over Dundee Wanderers, here Tamilla Matchett scored four and there was a hat-trick for Margery Justice.
THE ROAD TO AVOID RELEGATION
Hillhead gave themselves a bit of a survival lifeline with a 5-2 win over Edinburgh HC, now both Edinburgh University and Inverleith are within striking distance but they must still see off Inverleith in their last game to achieve that. Meanwhile Edinburgh HC are officially relegated to the second tier next season.
Rachel Osborne and Carla MacNiven gave Hillhead an early two goal lead but Emily Morris pulled one back just before the interval. Hillhead continued to dominate in the second half and advanced their tally to five with goals from Alex Burdon at a penalty corner, MacNiven again and finally Ciara Goddard while Angie Davie got one back for Edinburgh.
Edinburgh University dragged themselves towards safety with a single goal win over Inverleith and now move to the top of the lower pool with bottom side Edinburgh HC to come later in the day. The only goal of the game emanated from Millie Skidmore early in the second half.
Hillhead seemed to have recruited the services of Houdini to escape the threat of relegation with another win, this time 1-0 against Inverleith for their second victory of the day. The Glasgow side are now two points ahead of Inverleith and slipped into second in the lower pool, leaving the Edinburgh side to face the second tier runners-up to secure their own survival. Hillhead`s Alex Burdon got the all-important goal at a penalty corner just before the break.
Finally, in a game that was now only for pride, the Edinburgh students left DISC with a comfortable 7-0 win over Edinburgh HC, the result moves them to the top of the lower pool. In the scoring there was a hat-trick for Katie Brett while the others were singles by Ruth Blaikie, Jess Ross, Clemmie Boyd and finally Millie Skidmore.
