McConnell treble as champions hit seven against ESM

Premiership: men: Erskine Stewart’s Melville 0, Western 7; Inverleith 1, Grange 6; Hillhead 5, Dunfermline Carnegie 3; FMGM Monarchs 1, Clydesdale 4; Edinburgh University 8, Kelburne 2.

Premiership: women: Watsonians 4, Grange 0; Inverleith 1, Western Wildcats 3; Glasgow University 1, Clydesdale Western 4; GHK 1, Uddingston 0; Edinburgh University 10, Gordonians 0; Dundee Wanderers 0, Hillhead 3.

Andrew McConnell claimed a glory treble as champions Western stayed in pole position in the men’s Premiership with a 7-0 victory at newly-promoted Erskine Stewart’s Melville (ESM).

McConnell finished his hat-trick with a reverse stick stunner high into the net against the well-organised and hard-working newcomers who included six schoolboys in their team and were only 2-0 down at the break.

The Scottish international said Western upped the tempo in the second-half and he is happy with his tally far this term, five goals in two games, and the progression of the team who are bedding in some new players.

Only some good goalkeeping by ESM’s Callum Miller plus some missed chances kept the scoring down, but Western have still scored 14 goals in their first two games to earn maximum points.

ESM are on a steep learning curve and coach Andrew Brogdon said they played some good stuff during the game.

Grange coach Stevie Grubb saw his men go 1-0 down at Inverleith, Charlie Jack firing home from just inside the D, but last season’s runners-up scored six without reply to stay on Western’s coat-tails with 11 goals and maximum points in two games.

Elsewhere, Edinburgh University clicked into gear with an 8-2 home victory over Kelburne while Clydesdale won 4-1 at newly-promoted FMGM Monarchs and Hillhead sunk Dunfermline Carnegie 5-3 in Glasgow.

Watsonians women beat city rivals Grange 4-0 to stay on top of of the table in their defence of the title while Edinburgh University romped to a 10-0 victory over Aberdeen side Gordonians.