Premiership: men: Western 8, Clydesdale 2; Uddingston 7, FMGM Monarchs 2; Watsonians 7, Kelburne 2; Inverleith 10, Dunfermline Carnegie 2; Grange 3, Edinburgh University 3; Erskine Stewart’s Melville 3, Hillhead 4.
Women: Saturday: Western Wildcats 4, Uddingston 0; Inverleith 0, Watsonians 14; Glasgow University 1, Grange Edinburgh Ladies 1; Dundee Wanderers 0, GHK 1; Clydesdale 1, Edinburgh University 1. Sunday: Grange Edinburgh Ladies 0, Clydesdale Western 3.
Grange remain in pole position in the men’s Premiership despite drawing with Capital rivals Edinburgh University at Fettes, but defending champions Western are now their nearest challengers and Grange coach, Stevie Grubb, admitted: “It makes the rest of the season interesting with Western right behind us.”
Last season’s runners-up now have 22 points and retain their unbeaten record after the 3-3 result against the students, but Western hammered fourth-placed Clydesdale 8-2 at Auchenhowie to turn real heat on the front-runners. They have 21 points.
Grubb said this was the classic game of two halves. Grange went 2-0 ahead through Dylan Bean and he was very satisfied with the first-half performance from his men, but the students coach, Hamish Imrie, changed their shape and rattled in three goals.
That left Grange playing catch-up and Scottish international Duncan Riddell scrambled the ball home inside the final minute to earn the point and keep Grange at the top of the pile.
Grubb added: “They changed their shape and we struggled a little bit but we managed to level. We know how to play against the change of shape but we didn’t do it and lessons learned.”
Grange play struggling Dundee side FMGM Monarchs away next Saturday and have a Scottish Cup tie against Capitals rivals Watsonians on Sunday at a time and venue yet to be confirmed.
Edinburgh University slip to third with 20 points and retain their unbeaten record of six wins and two draws. They also remain the top scoring side in the league with 54 goals in eight matches.
Their player/coach, Hamish Imrie (pictured in the red shirt by Nigel Duncan), said that his men started slowly and that they must switch on from the start, otherwise it is an uphill struggle in games against top sides.
The Scotland international added: “We went 2-0 down but switched on and went 3-2 in front after we changed a few things. We must, however, switch on at the start as this makes life so much easier and it does not mean we face an uphill battle.
“We’re playing some nice hockey but it is small things which make a difference and if we can get those right then we will be in business.”
Robbie Croll claimed two goals from penalty corners and Keir Robb the other against Grange and the students face Watsonians at Peffermill on Saturday (push-off 1.30pm). Imrie said: “This will be tough game as they are going well in the league but we are looking for a win as there is no margin for error at the top of the table.”
Watsonians are fifth on 15 points after their 7-2 victory over Kelburne in Edinburgh with Inverleith now sixth following their 10-2 demolition of struggling Dunfermline Carnegie in the Capital. Two straight wins have improve Inverleith’s position in the table.
Elsewhere, Erskine Stewart’s Melville failed to build on their first win when they were edged 4-3 by seventh-placed Hillhead at Inverleith but they remain second-bottom as FMGM Monarchs lost 7-2 at Uddingston, their seventh defeat in eight matches.
Watsonians thrashed city rivals Inverleith 14-0 to move six points clear at the top of the women’s Premiership as they bid to retain their title while Western occupy second spot after their 4-0 victory over Uddingston.
Edinburgh University are third with 16 points after sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Clydesdale while Grange Edinburgh Ladies earned a 1-1 draw at Glasgow University and on Sunday lost 3-0 at home to Clydesdale Western with the goals all coming from penalty corners. Full story on another page.
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