Scotland: Premiership Sees Some Lethal Finishing

A feature of Saturday`s proceedings was some individual lethal finishing – there were five goals for Clydesdale Western`s Jenny Eadie while Wildcats` Fraser Moran, Grange`s Jacob Tweedie, and Clydesdale`s Frances Lonergan all scored four apiece – good shooting.

In the game of the day, and an Edinburgh derby, it was Watsonians who emerged the victor by 3-2 against rivals from the University and they open up a five point lead at the top of the men`s Premiership. Although, to be fair, Western Wildcats do have a game in hand.

The league`s prolific scorers were again in evidence, Edinburgh`s Jamie Golden and Charlie Jack from Watsonians both scored twice in the encounter, but it was Guy Rowson who claimed the additional goal for the league leaders. Consequently, the students drop down to third in the table.

That is because Western Wildcats were 8-4 winners over Clydesdale at Auchenhowie and slip up to second on goal difference.  In the goal flood here, Fraser Moran added another four to his season`s tally, and both Rob Harwood and Iain McFadden scored twice. In reply Andrew Allan, Andrew McGrane, Ben Moulson and Luke Bannerman were on target for Clydesdale.

In the battle of the emerging clubs Uddingston and ESM Lions it was perhaps not surprising that the clash finished in a 1-1 draw, a result that leaves the Lanarkshire side fourth and the Lions sixth.  Here Max Strachen scored for Uddy while Cameron Ede was again on target for the Lions.

Meanwhile, Grange were involved in a ten goal thriller with Grove Menzieshill at Fettes – and they shared the points.  Jacob Tweedie was on the ball with four for Grange with Robbie Croll getting the other.  Taysider John Donald scored a hat-trick from penalty corners to level at 1-1, 3-3 and 5-5 while Jack Tasker put Menzieshill 2-1 up and Brian McGarrity put them 4-3 up…but it all finished square in the end. Menzieshill coach Gav Byers summed it up, “it was a proper ding-dong game.”

Grange remain fifth while Grove Menzieshill are tenth.

Hillhead recorded their second win in row with a 5-4 victory over Inverleith. The Glasgow side move up to seventh while Inverleith drop to ninth. For Hillhead there were doubles for Ewan Campbell and Matt Carder while Fraser Ward got the other. On target for Inverleith were Tyler Stagg, Zak Turtle, Stuart Hatton and Hamish Norval.

In the final encounter Dundee Wanderers move further away from the danger zone after a 2-1 win at bottom side St Andrews University. Here Callum Ross scored twice for the Taysiders and Jacob Anderson got the student`s reply.

Edinburgh University move to the top of the women`s Premiership despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Wildcats, but then Watsonians are only a point behind with Sunday`s fixture against Hillhead still to come – so their lofty status may be short lived.

Wildcats showed their teeth at Auchenhowie to upset their visitors, Emma Blackstock was their scorer with a tap in while Harri Platt replied for the students.   Despite their hard fought draw Wildcats will still fall back to sixth, overtaken by Grange who picked up three points.

Clydesdale Western moved into second spot on goal difference after a 14 goal win over Glasgow University.  Top scorers were Jenny Eadie with five and Frances Lonergan with four while Ava Graham, Emma McGregor, Bronwyn Shields and Sophie Hinds completed the tally.

St Andrews University stay in fourth spot with a 3-1 win over Uddingston, on target were Amy Edgar, Frederique Zandbergen and Hannah Coull.

Grange continue their progress up the table to fifth after a 3-0 win at Inverleith with the goals coming from Heather Croll, Eve Downie and Freya Philip, however the result leaves the home side in the lower reaches.

Further down GHK are moving up the table courtesy of a 4-2 win at Aberdeen University and are now knocking on the door of the top six.  Lucy Williamson, Sophie Byrne, Jo Boyle and Hanna McKie were on target for GHK while the students reply came from Rebecca Gordon from the spot and Abigail Moffat at a penalty corner.

SCOTTISH CUP

Meanwhile, on Thursday evening Grove Menzieshill was the first club to advance to the quarter-finals of the men’s Scottish Cup with a 2-0 win at Inverleith in an all-Premiership clash.  After a goalless first half Findlay Duncan put the Taysiders ahead from a penalty corner.  That is how the score stood until the dying minutes when the home side took off their keeper in an effort to save the tie but the gamble backfired as Benni Whiteley rolled the ball into the empty net to secure the result.