Scotland: musical chairs at the top of the premier leagues

So let’s start with the events of last Thursday evening.

Watsonians returned to the top of the Women’s Premiership with a 12-goal win at Hillhead on Thursday evening. As a result, Edinburgh University and Clydesdale Western both drop one place in the top three… leaving Hillhead second from bottom. Once again Sarah Jamieson was top scorer with a hat-trick, there were two each for Ailsa Small, Jenna Park and Fiona Burnet while Katherine Holdgate, Ellie Rutherford and Emily Dark were also on target.

Further afield, GHK continued their resurgence by moving up to fourth on Grange’s goal difference after a 2-1 win over St Andrews University, who moved back to sixth… but still in the top six. Once again it was Lucy Williamson and Sophie Byrne who scored for Glasgow, with Lucy Jamieson replying for the students.

In the men’s competition, Uddingston continue to show solid progress with a further three points in a 4-1 home win over Inverleith – and they have moved up to second place in the table, despite having played around a match more than Western Wildcats and Edinburgh University, who are both one place lower. For Inverleith, hopes of a place in the top six are diminishing.

Jedd Campbell gave the home team the lead in just three minutes through a penalty corner, but in quarter two Tyler Stagg equalized with a set piece into the roof of the net. But the scoring was then left to Uddy, Angus Miller from close range and Finn Halliday with a simple tap in made it 3-1 at the break. The only goal of the second half came from former Australian international and Olympian Glenn Turner with a neat finish. In fact, the Aussie had a significant influence on the proceedings with a goal and two assists.

And now on to the events of Saturday’s Premiership action.

It’s the University of Edinburgh’s turn to top the men’s Premier League after a 5-1 win over Uddingston… and surprise, surprise it was Jamie Golden who ended Lanarkshire’s unbeaten run with four goals, Keir Robb getting the other. Max Strachan was on target for Uddy. Despite the turnaround, Uddy is still firmly in fourth place in the rankings.

At Auchenhowie, Western Wildcats and Watsonians fought out a 3-3 draw in what was described as a great game of hockey. It was a pulsating encounter that started when Charlie Jack put the visitors ahead with a shot into the postage stamp corner of the net… and that’s how it stood at the break.

In the second half Western looked to take control with an equalizer from Adam Mackenzie from the top of the circle and then Fraser Moran from the spot. Moran then cut Western’s lead to 3-1 with a penalty corner conversion. But in the closing minutes Watsonians came back, Tommy Orr reduced the deficit and in a dramatic denouement, Gabe Tenner saved a point for Watsonians with a penalty corner in extra time. So honor even in a great ad for the game.

Meanwhile, Grange all but assured themselves a place in the top six with a 3-1 win over Inverleith in Fettes. Kyle Reid scored twice for the home side in the first half, first a shot from the top of the circle and then a deflection at the far post. In the final quarter Livio Belotti added a third after a rebound off the crossbar and Grange had the three points in the bag. Zak Turtle scored a consolation for Inverleith from a late penalty corner.

ESM Lions retain fifth place after a 3-1 win over St Andrews University. The visitors took the lead in a fairly even first half through Olly Pillinger. But the Edinburgh side increased their score in the second half through Theo Wood and Paddy Crookshanks with a fine deflection. Daniel Leitch was on target for the students.

Hillhead continued their recent good run with a 2-1 win over Dundee Wanderers. After a goalless first half, Hillhead took the lead when a cross over the keeper was punched into the net by Ewan Campbell. Wanderers leveled from a penalty corner but the winner came from a drive into the circle from Fraser Ward and his cross was tapped into the net by Daniel Squires.

Further down the table, Grove Menzieshill triumphed 3-2 against Clydesdale to move higher up the table. Jamie Spratt put the Taysiders ahead with a deflection but back came the Dale with a double from Charlie Feeney for a 2-1 lead. The home side took revenge and Spratt again, with Connor Chapman giving Menzieshill the narrow victory.

Watsonians are still top of the women’s league after an 11-goal win over the University of Glasgow. Fiona Burnet led the charge with a hat-trick, and there were two each for Ailsa Small and Sarah Jamieson, while Katherine Holdgate, Ellie Rutherford, Ellie Wilson and Milly Berndes-Cade also contributed.

However, Clydesdale Western moved up to second place after a convincing 4-1 win over Edinburgh University, who dropped to third. The Dale scorers were Ciara Forgie, Frances Lonergan, Millie Steiger and Jenny Eadie. Emily McLean responded with a tap-in after a penalty corner.

St Andrews University return to fourth place with a 5-1 over Grange, who drop to sixth. Charlotte Bosma was the catalyst with four goals, while Amy Edgar scored the other. Freya Philip replied that Grange would put an end to their impressive recent form.

In a battle for a place in the top six, Wildcats and GHK fought out a 2-2 draw, leaving the latter in fifth place and the Cats dropping to eighth with a bit to do to get into the top flight – next weekend’s match against Grange could decide that scenario. Olivia Finch with a tap-in from a penalty corner and Chloe Hardie with a solo against the keeper were on target for the Cats, while Lucy Williamson and Kayleigh Justice were GHK’s scorers.

Uddingston took over in seventh place after a 4-1 win over Hillhead, Wendy MacIntyre scoring a consolation from a penalty corner.

And so on to Sunday’s few catch-up games and how they affected everything.

Clydesdale Western returned to the top of the women’s Premiership after scoring a dozen at the University of Aberdeen. Clydesdale now join Watsonians on 27 points but with a superior goal difference, but the champions still have a game in hand against Uddingston on Tuesday evening. Ciara Forgie topped the scoring with five, while Jika Nyirenda collected a hat-trick, the rest were all singles.

In the men’s competition, Edinburgh University confirmed their pole position with an eleven-goal win over Grove Menzieshill. They now lead Watsonians by three and Wildcats by five, but both still have games in hand. Once again the catalyst was Jamie Golden with a whopping eight for himself, with Keir Robb, Callum Munro and Declan Bradley providing the others.

ESM Lions overtake Uddingston into fourth place on goal difference after a 2-1 win over Clydesdale. The Lions took the lead in the first half when Elliot Sandison got the last touch before the ball went in. ESM pressure in the second half led to Jack Collister’s second. Clydesdale pulled one back from a penalty corner through Ben Molson, but that could not change the end result.