Men’s hockey – Moodie’s men aiming high at Grange

Graham Moodie, Edinburgh University’s coach, can’t wait to see how his in-form side cope with unbeaten, long-time Division One pace-setters and reigning champions Grange on Saturday (11am, Fettes College).

The students come into the game after a 3-2 league win win over Clydesdale last Saturday at Peffermill.

They followed-up with a 3-1 win at Aberdeen Standard Gordonians to reach the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.

And the students topped that with a 2-1 victory a Cambridge University in the semi-final of the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Trophy.

Edinburgh are now in the BUCS Trophy Final in Nottingham on March 27 against Cardiff University.

Coach Graham Moodie said: “Grange are the best team in the league and they have a lot of strengths and a very strong squad.

“We are on a good run at the moment, playing positive hockey and grinding out some good results.

“We should be at full strength on Saturday and I’m excited to see what we can do (against Grange).”

Meanwhile, Scottish international Duncan Riddell started a goal rush with the opening goal as champions Grange beat Watsonians 6-0 to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games.

The Edinburgh club top the ten-strong Division One table by six points and have four games left to go in this season’s title race.

Former Reading star Riddell is determined to do all he can to claim a second successive title.

He said: “We played some really nice attacking hockey (against Watsonains) and we defended incredibly well.

“We are going well and we need to make sure we stay focused for the next four games.

“Edinburgh University are a similar side to Watsonians, they work really hard and we need to be focused right the way through it.”

Watsons coach Mike Leonard must lift his eighth-placed side for their home clash with struggling Kelburne at Tipperlin on Saturday (no time given).

Elsewhere, Hillhead, who are fourth, host third-placed Grove Menzieshill at Anniesland (noon) and pointless Aberdeen Standard Gordonians at are home to second-placed Western Wildcats (15.30) while Clydesdale, who are sixth, entertain seventh-placed Uddingston at Titwood (16.30).