Scotland: Clydesdale gallops to the top of the women’s national indoor competition

The top of the women’s indoor National League Division 1 looks to have a familiar look, Clydesdale Western are the leaders with nine points from their three games and a huge goal difference, while Watsonians are on six after just two games. GHK, Inverleith, Dundee Wanderers and Wildcats have three points with Hillhead and Grange yet to get off the line.

Well, the women’s indoor National League certainly started with a bang and a glut of goals. Clydesdale came with a strong team, they put in a powerful performance and came away with a 13-1 win over Dundee Wanderers in the opening match of the new indoor season. The Titwood side appear to have staked out their stall.

There was no mercy for the Taysiders as Jennifer Eadie scored five goals, Millie Steiger got four and the rest were singles. In the middle of the avalanche of goals, Sam Sangster managed to sink a penalty corner for Wanderers’ consolation

Clydesdale then went on to defeat Grange in their second outing – this time 16-1. Bizarrely it was 1-1 after six minutes, Millie Steiger opened for Clydesdale and then Iona Syme replied for Grange. Then the floodgates opened…Jennifer Eadie was top scorer again with four, the same number as Lucy Williamson, while Ciara Forgie and Kayleigh Justice both recorded hat-tricks – the latter’s three goals coming in as many minutes.

In the end, Clydesdale defeated GHK in their final match of the day – it was a more sedate affair 7-2. And it was just one goal in the break through Kayleigh Justice. Then Laura McCabe equalized for GHK. So what next – well, it was six more for Clydesdale with doubles from Jennifer Eadie making it eleven for the day, and Millie Steiger teaming up with hits from Lucy Williamson and Margery Justice making the score 7-1, before GHK’s Joanne Boyle got a late consolation.

Watsonians also started their campaign in defense of their title with a win, but of lesser proportions with a 4-1 scoreline over Wildcats. The champions led by two at the break through a penalty corner from Emily Dark and open play from Katie Stott. A minute into the second half Alex Stuart pulled one back for the Cats but the three points were confirmed with further Watsonians strikes from Jenna Park and Millie Skidmore.

The champions took full points that day, but their local derby against Inverleith proved to be a test – at least in terms of scoring. It looked relatively easy as Watsonians strolled into a 2-0 lead through Katie Stott and Emily Dark, but before half-time Jenn Tait pulled the score back to 2-1. The second half proved problematic as Bopi Monte and then Tait again pushed Inverleith into a 3-2 lead – and a shock was in store.

But no, with three minutes to go Emily Dark scored twice for a 4-3 winning score and the points were secured.

GHK made a solid start to this season’s campaign with an opening 7-2 win over Grange. At the break they led by three, through Joanne Boyle, Heather Currie and Emma Tennant. In the second half GHK moved to six, Boyle got two more for her hat-trick and Tennant scored her second. A mini revival from Edinburgh with a brace from Iona Syme for 6-2, but towards the end Robin Robeson added GHK’s seventh.

However, GHK failed to capitalize on their initial success, going down 2-1 to Dundee Wanderers in their second outing. Jess Martin put the Taysiders ahead after just two minutes, but not long after Heather Currie equalized for GHK… and that’s how it stood at half-time. The winner for Wanderers came midway through the second half when Martin converted a penalty corner – and that was the end of the scoring and the three points went to Wanderers.

Inverleith were also early winners with a 3-0 win over Hillhead. A two-goal lead at the break via a penalty corner conversion from Bopi Monte and Elerie Jones. It remained that way until the final minute when Monte added a late third and the three points.

Towards the end of the day, Wildcats spun to a seven-goal win over Hillhead to collect their first three points of the campaign. At the break there were three through Kate Holmes, Alex Stuart and Lucy Macmillan from a penalty corner. The second half was a succession of further goals with Stuart, Holmes and Macmillan grabbing their second of the match, while Jess Freeland also found the net.