Grange remain in pole position in the men’s Premiership thanks to a road win at Grove Menzieshill and coach Stevie Grubb praised the Tayside team’s goalkeeper, Steven McIlravey, for keeping the score down to 3-1.
Grubb added: “We played some nice hockey in our build-up play with us identifying and exploiting the space wide and high on the pitch.
“The Menzieshill goalkeeper made a number of very good stops to keep the score to just three.”
Grange maintained their perfect record and move on to 18 points from six starts but The University of Edinburgh are tucked in behind on 15 points from one game less.
Hamish imrie’s men are the league’s top scorers with 29 goals for and only three against with Western Wildcats in third position with nine points but from only four games as they missed a weekend to compete in the EuroHockey League in Barcelona.
Rob Harwood collected two goals for Wildcats with Calder, Christie and McKenzie netting one each in a one-side game against lowly Dundee Wanderers who played deep defence for most of the game, trying to frustrate the Glasgow side.
Harwood said: “We did well to go in at half-time 4-0 up but, credit to Wanderers, they frustrated us at times in the third quarter and managed to pinch a goal on the break.”
He added: “We weren’t pleased with our second-half performance but it was a comfortable three points.”
Clydesdale are fourth on seven points also from four games following their 4-4 draw with Inverleith, scoring on the final whistle to equalise.
Charlie Jack netted twice for the Edinburgh side with Jack Henderson and Hamish Norval also scoring. Coach Paul Taylor admitted: “It was another frustrating draw after an exciting end to the game.”
A welcome 3-2 victory for Watsonians at Peffermill moves them into fifth position was achieved by late drama. The Edinburgh side came from 1-0 down early, Uddingston scoring from a close in tap in at the near post, and the three points moves them into fifth spot also on seven points but from six games.
Dan Coultas, Watsonians’ player/coach and a former Great Britain squad player, scored along with Jack Cahlin and Keir Urquhart who netted the game-winner.
Coultas said: “It was a close game that was very open and both teams had chances but we fought well and defended well right to the end and won a corner on full-time where a flock was saved.
“There was a goalmouth scramble with Urquhart getting the final touch for the goal. It was a bug three points for us in a very competitive season.”
Uddingston, under new coach Tom Hyndman, are sixth with six points from five starts with Inverleith seventh on six points from the same number of games.
All the Kelburne v Hillhead fixture ended 4-2 in favour of Hillhead who are eighth with Grove Menzieshill ninth, Erskine Stewart’s Melville tenth, Dundee Wanderers in 11th position and Kelburne propping up the table.
Uddingston visit Peffermill to play Watsonians. By Nigel Duncan
Watsonians captain Tom Swarbrick goes for the ball. Picture by Nigel Duncan
All eyes on the ball as it goes over the bar. Picture Nigel Duncan
Coach Tom Hyndman issuing instructions pre-match. Picture Nigel Duncan
Warm-up for Uddingston at Peffermill by Nigel Duncan
Focus for Uddingston (blue shirts) and Watsonians at Peffermill. Picture Nigel Duncan
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