Hockey- Grange and Watsonians hoping to add to Premiership triumphs

Grange take the first step towards a Premiership and play-off double on Saturday at Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre.

The Edinburgh side, who won the league last weekend with a 4-1 win over Capital rivals, Watsonians, clash with Clydesdale in the play-off semi-final at 2pm.

The other semi features Western Wildcats, who finished runners-up in the league, against Edinburgh University who were third. Push back 4pm.

The final is at Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre on Sunday (4pm) and Martin Shepherdson, Grange’s team manager, confirmed that they have injury worries ahead of the clash.

He did not name the injured players but said: “The bulk of the squad is available.”

Shepherdson (pictured in the blue top by Nigel Duncan) added: “We are looking forward to the weekend and we know we have a real chance of progressing.”

And coach Stevie Grubb added: “We have worked on a few areas we would like to improve on and hope this work stands in good stead for what will be a tough semi-final against Clydesdale.

“This is our third game against them this year and we now both have a good idea of what each other are capable of.”

Grange topped the table at the end of the regular season with 44 points from 16 games and were the only unbeaten side in the division, winning 14 games and drawing two.

They scored 85 goals, the third highest total, and let in 19, the lowest total in the league.

Clydesdale finished fourth with 25 points from their 16 outings, winning seven, drawing four and losing five, and they scored 48 goals and conceded 40.

Western finished with 43 points, winning 14 of their games, drawing one and losing one to Grange, and they scored 100 goals and let in 22. Edinburgh University were third with 51 points accumulated from ten wins, three draws and three defeats. They scored 87 goals and let in 36. This game is at 4pm.

The women’s Premiership play-offs are also on Saturday and Watsonians, who won their second straight title last weekend, face Clydesdale at 10am for the fourth time this season having won 4-2 and 3-0 in the league and 1-0 in the Scottish Cup.

Coach Keith Smith confirmed that Scotland international Ellie Wilson is still sidelined with a foot injury and there are a couple of minor niggles but Watsonians will be “pretty much” at full strength.

Edinburgh University square-up to Western Wildcats and the students have held the upper hand in matches this season and results include a 6-1 victory over Wildcats last weekend in Glasgow (push off noon).