Green shoots are emerging in the shadow of the ruins of Bothwell Castle with the emergence of Uddingston in the men`s Premiership.
Early shoots perhaps, but Uddy have moved up to fourth in the Premiership table half way through the first phase of the competition. It was not an auspicious beginning with an 8-1 mauling by Western Wildcats on the opening day, but that was followed up by four wins and a draw in an unbeaten run and a charge up the table. Last weekend`s 3-1 defeat of former champions Grange was a feather in the Uddy cap.
Last season Uddy finished in the lower half of the league but now a top six place is a realistic aspiration.
So what is behind the turn-round? We caught up with coach Tom Hyndman who revealed the secret: “Much of our season 25/26 success so far has come from the appointment of the new Director of Hockey, John Bessell. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, he is now enforcing a more performance environment that players and coaches alike are embracing fully across all levels at the club.
“Summer recruitment has obviously helped but existing players improving throughout a good pre-season has had some of the biggest impact, while younger players also pushing at the first door to drive competition for places.”
John Bessell has had a long career at the top level in hockey over the last 30 years, mainly in his native Australia and more recently in Belgium, and might be familiar to some as he used to play for Clydesdale. It looks as if his influence is already being felt in Lanarkshire.
On Saturday Uddingston welcome ESM Lions with a view to extending their present unbeaten run. That may not be so easy as ESM have also been a success case since joining the Premiership a few years ago, and they currently hold down sixth place. The Lions were higher up the division at the start of the campaign but back to back defeats at the hands of Watsonians and Edinburgh University have taken their toll a little.
This could be an interesting contest between two teams that are working hard to develop and progress at the top level.
However, Peffermill would appear to be the site of the men’s game of the day between second placed Edinburgh University and Premiership leaders Watsonians.
The students are only two points adrift after dropping a couple in a draw with Western Wildcats…so there’s nothing really in it. And both have been piling in the goals – Watsonians on 33 with Edinburgh on 35, so nothing in it there either. The conclusion is that we should expect a high scoring affair with the outcome in the balance, although both defences have been equally stingy in conceding goals.
Also of interest, will be Watsonians’ Charlie Jack and Edinburgh`s Jamie Golden continue their goal scoring spree that has been a feature of the season so far.
Waiting in the wings with some considerable interest in the showdown at Peffermill will undoubtedly be Western Wildcats who are a few points behind the top two, but with a game in hand. The Wildcats are at home at Auchenhowie and welcome a Clydesdale side that are having a challenging season – second bottom with only a single point. If the champions are to keep in touch, then three points here is a must for Vishal Marwaha`s charges.
Meanwhile Grange have dropped to fifth in the table after their 3-1 defeat at Uddingston and only a home win against Grove Menzieshill will steady the ship and consolidate that status. Although the Taysiders picked up another valuable point last weekend at Inverleith, do they have sufficient firepower to inflict a big result on a Grange side that may not be at their best so far, but have still won four out of their six outings?
So what about further down the table? Well, Hillhead`s three goal victory at Titwood must have been a source of encouragement to player/coach Fraser Ward, and a home win over Inverleith would see the Glasgow side creep closer to the top six. Inverleith have shown a little bit of form, they lead Hillhead by a point with a game in hand, so three points here would see them move closer to leaving the bottom six.
Dundee Wanderers have taken only one point in their last four games and a win at bottom club St Andrews would stop that rot and push them back up the table from ninth.
The top of the women`s Premiership has unblocked slightly as a result of last weekend`s double header, and now Watsonians and Edinburgh University remain unbeaten and locked on 18 points, and with an identical goal difference. It could hardly be closer.
That might remain after Saturday`s action – Watsonians are away at second bottom Hillhead while the Edinburgh students travel to the Wildcats` den at Auchenhowie.
Clydesdale Western are now three points adrift of the top two following their 2-1 defeat at Watsonians, however they were perhaps unlucky not to take something from the encounter and should return to winning ways away to Glasgow University.
St Andrews University have also slipped back after a five goal reversal against Watsonians and then their game against GHK was postponed. October has been a frustrating month for the students and they have to go back to the beginning of the month for their last victory. And they have Uddingston visiting the home of golf, a side that can go down 4-1 to Grange one week and then beat Wildcats by a single goal the next – inconsistency can be a dangerous ingredient.
GHK are not back in the top six, yet, but they are getting closer after winning their last two games, and on Saturday they make the trip to the north-east to take on bottom side Aberdeen University. Another three points could be on the cards here if they maintain progress.
And finally the local Edinburgh derby between Inverleith and Grange with the latter showing the better form so far. Grange occupy sixth place after three wins in seven games while Inverleith have yet to claim a three point outcome.
