Field hockey – Grange close in on long-time league leaders

World League 2 (men): Scotland 0, France 2 (in Belfast). Division One (men): Watsonians 3, Hillead 0; Western Wildcats 6, AAM Gordonians 0; PSL Team Sport Clydesdale 3, Grange 4; Edinburgh University 2, Uddingston Deans Eng 2

Second-placed Grange closed the gap on long-time, Division One pace-setters Bromac Kelburne with a narrow 4-3 win at second-bottom PSL Team Sport Clydesdale.

The Edinburgh side now have 34 points from 13 games, two points adrift of Kelburne but the West of Scotland club have a superior goal difference of plus 40 against plus 29.

Elsewhere, Watsonians disappointing winless streak ended with a 3-0 home victory over Glasgow side Hillhead but the early-season leaders still slip down to eighth place in the ten-strong table.

Western Wildcats edged into seventh position with a 6-0 thrashing of bottom club AAM Gordonians and Uddingston Deans Eng stay fourth after a 2-2 draw at fifth-placed Edinburgh University.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s hopes of making the next stage of the World League have been dashed.

Coach Derek Forsyth’s team lost 2-0 to France in the semi-finals and only the top two in the Belfast-based event qualify for World League 3.

Two goals in seven, first-half minutes proved decisive, Pieter van Straaten and Victor Charlet netting.