There are now six university parties in the Premiership, an increase of two compared to last season, and they go into the deep end with a double head weekend.
So what is in store for the newly promoted parties – St Andrews Men have the discouraging task of looking at Grange on Saturday and then the next day Western Wildcats Te Champion – that’s a challenge! Aberdeen -Women have a little easier on paper at Wildcats at home and then Hillhead in Glasgow.
But even with University Premiership veterans it is difficult to predict what the form of this season could be if players come and will start and complete when courses are started.
And men from the University of Edinburgh, who won their first domestic trophy with the Scottish Cup at the end of last season, start the campaign of this season in the deep … at home with champions Western Wildcats. And in the past seasons the results between these parties are often quite close, so we will see what happens at Peffermill on Saturday. It can be a little easier for the students on Sundays to Hillhead – but you never know.
The students of Edinburgh, still under the coaching -aegis of Neil Allan, not only play Western wildcats in their opening match on Saturday, but have exchanged players with the Auchenhowie -side -Jamie Golden goes to Peffermill while Iin McFadden goes in the opposite direction. Neil also explained the departure of Clemens Probst to London and Ritchie Mcclukey back to Grange.
In compensation, the Students have registered MyLo Darley from London Wayfarers, Sam Dixon by Ben Rydding and Dunfermline Carnegie’s Josh Love.
So what about tackling wildcats in the first meeting, this is what Neil said: “It is neither good or bad, we have to play every team in the competition, so for me it doesn’t matter who we play and when we play them, we will prepare as a normal and if the games are last year, we are a good and very competitive game.
“However, we do not fear that someone in the competition and the feeling that we have the depth and defensive and offensive capacities to cause our opponents many problems.”
So what are the students of the students for the season, Neil said briefly: “In terms of objectives for the first half of the season, top six, then we can watch further. One match at the same time.”
The female students of Edinburgh ended up a somewhat disappointing fourth in the Premiership table and did not qualify for Europe, but they lifted the Scottish Cup again. They open to Uddingston on Saturday, but then have the dangerous visit of GHK the next day.
An interesting development that has emerged this season is the appointment of Sam Judge as head coach at Watsonians Men – it is calculated that Sam will be the first female coach of a Premiership outfit for men – that is, unless someone else knows. Sam is a former striker of Scotland and a very experienced coach who wins countless domestic titles, together with European success with women of Edinburgh University for a long period.
So what’s behind this refreshing movement. We caught up with Sam and she gave the background.
“I work with Dan Coultas & Tom Swarbrick and they asked if I would be interested last season. But I felt that I needed a break. Then I was chatting a lot in October and agreed to help him for a few games, but it was a very informal involvement. I had never coached men, but I really enjoyed the work.”
So what does Sam think of her new charges?
“I think we have a lot of potential. We have added a number of quality players to the team, because we try to have depth and make it a more competitive environment. The boys have a good mentality and work hard. They are an ambitious group and want to do well this season.”
Sam will undoubtedly be looking for six points against Inverleith on Saturday and a trip to Clydesdale the next day.
What about the other parties? It is a meaningless exercise that makes predictions after just one game, or in some cases not games. In the competition of the men on the opening day, however, there were significant victories for Wildcats and Watsonians, Grange left it very late to understand the three points, and there were also victories for Esm Lions and Inverleith, and eventually Clydesdale were bad luck. For the women, Clydesdale Western and Wildcats were convincing winners and Grange won the only goal. That’s it so far.
In the women’s match, however, Watsonians start the defense of their title to GHK, not an easy assignment and then at home at Grange.
Keith Smith continues as a coach and gave details about some changes in the line-up for the season. Gone Jess Garden at a trade show in the US, Amy Clark moved to the University of Edinburgh, Genevieve Hussell to London, while both Anni Arthur and Sarah Mckay went to Australia for a sabbatical of work. On the positive side, goalkeeper Iona Colquhoun has been accompanied by Grange and Millie Skidmore from Wildcats, Ellie Rutherford returned after completing her diploma in the US, and in the end there is promotion for younger Sophie Davidson after an impressive year in the second series.
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