With the last scheduled Premiership weekend before the winter break approaching, bringing to an end the first phase of the competition, it is time to review the current situation and the few scenarios yet to be decided.
The top of the women`s Premiership is still fairly tight, Watsonians are in pole position with a perfect record, three points ahead of Clydesdale Western with Edinburgh University trailing a further seven points adrift. Watsonians’ advantage came courtesy of Tuesday evening`s 10-2 win over Uddingston in a catch-up fixture. Fiona Burnet was top with five, perhaps not surprising Sarah Jamieson picked up a hat-trick and Jenna Park along with Emily Dark were also on target.
The Edinburgh students have dropped points in draws against St Andrews and Wildcats, and last weekend went down 4-1 to Clydesdale, but they are still in the mix. On Saturday they host leaders Watsonians and another reversal would undoubtedly set them further adrift. Recently games between these two Edinburgh rivals have been close, and Saturday`s encounter is likely to be no different, especially if Jojo Muhl brings her shooting stick.
Whatever the outcome, Clydesdale coach Fiona Semple will want to keep up the pressure with the three points at Uddingston.
Uddy`s form of late has been fairly good and they lie in seventh place, within a stone`s throw of the top six. But they need to see off a free-scoring Clydesdale to make that aspiration a reality – a tall order you might think, but then again you never know.
In fact the race for a top six slot is still wide open. From the current top six it involves St Andrews University, GHK, and Grange, all have played ten games, and sit on 17, 16 and 15 points respectively. Uddy sit on 14 while Wildcats, in eighth, are on 12 but with an additional game to follow – so it`s all up for grabs.
You would fancy St Andrews to win against Inverleith and GHK to beat Hillhead, so that leaves the crucial Grange v Wildcats clash in Edinburgh. It is very much of a winner-take-all scenario. A Grange win would see them safe on 18 points while a Cats victory would allow them to leapfrog the Edinburgh side into sixth place – and they still have an outstanding game against Glasgow University to follow.
Current form would suggest a Grange triumph, they won three in a row until last weekend`s 5-1 defeat at St Andrews. In contrast the Cats have taken only two points from their last five games, but they can rise to the occasion when it is needed. Should be an interesting encounter!
A little convoluted but Saturday should finally determine the top six formation.
Finally, the all-university clash sees Glasgow take the long trip to Aberdeen – both in search of their first win of the season.
The men`s Premiership is also competitive going into the final game of the first stage. Edinburgh University, after recent impressive wins and striker Jamie Golden on fire in front of goal, are on 25 points, a lead of three points over Watsonians with Western Wildcats a further two behind – however, the students have played a game or two more.
Then behind are ESM Lions and Uddingston on 20 points with only one game left. All five are assured of a top tier finish already.
Will any of this change on Saturday? Edinburgh finish their programme at home to Grange. A year ago that would have been a challenging encounter but sixth placed Grange are having an up and down season and will have to be on top form to stem the Golden and co scoring spree.
That takes us quite nicely to the final top six position for the second half of the season. Grange sit on 16 points, three ahead of Hillhead but with a significant goal advantage. And the Glasgow side are at Watsonians for their final game, a challenging prospect. Hillhead have made a late surge, unbeaten in the last four games, and will have to continue their top form to hope to defeat the side lying second.
Wildcats are the only unbeaten side in the league and if they win their last three matches, they could jump to the top. However, Saturday`s away fixture at ESM Lions might be a challenge for the Wildcats in a jungle encounter. ESM are once again a top six side with six wins out of ten games but again were unable to make a winning impression on either Edinburgh University or Watsonians…so will they fare any better against the Wildcats? Saturday will tell!
So that might allow Uddingston to reclaim fourth spot as they welcome St Andrews University at home. Uddy`s bubble was deflated slightly by four goals from Jamie Golden last weekend, only their second defeat of the league season, and they will hope to prevent another reversal against the bottom side in the division.
And so to the bottom tier of the Premiership. There`s the drama of the Tayside derby between Grove Menzieshill and Dundee Wanderers. Points are still at a premium to stay away from the bottom two places, and there is Tayside pride at stake, and it is never an encounter for the faint-hearted. So an interesting afternoon in Dundee is anticipated.
The Clydesdale management will be looking to lift their side off second bottom spot, and the chance comes at Titwood against Inverleith. The incentive is that the Dale would leapfrog the Edinburgh side on goal difference if the three points were secured…but as always, there is no guarantee.
The fixture card is certainly an exciting one.
