With three weekends left, the race for the Premiership titles is hotting up.
The situation originally of the week for the ladies`s silverware is easy – on Thursday night Watsonians, presently unbeaten, will retain the title in the event that they overcome rivals Edinburgh College. A draw would maintain the race open for an additional week. A win for the scholars would put actual strain on the champions whose lead would drop to 2 factors – and something can occur within the denouement.
Over the piece, these two sides have successfully dominated the marketing campaign with snug victories more often than not, though the Edinburgh college students did drop two factors in a draw with Grange. Within the first assembly between the perimeters again in September Watsonians raced into a 3 aim lead by way of Jess Backyard and a double from Emily Darkish. Edinburgh retaliated with strikes by Louise Campbell and Jika Nyirenda, but it surely was not sufficient to share the factors.
THURSDAY EVENING
So what was the end result? A 1-1 draw. Watsonians remaine 5 factors forward of their main rivals Edinburgh College. Watsonians` coach Keith Smith would be the happier with the consequence – though that was the primary factors dropped this season.
The champions can choose up the required three factors from their remaining fixtures towards Wildcats and GHK to retain the Premiership title. And that’s assuming the scholars don’t drop factors of their video games towards GHK and Clydesdale Western.
Thursday`s contest was goalless on the interval. It was Watsonians who took the initiative within the third quarter with a penalty nook strike by Emily Darkish. The identical participant nearly sealed the three factors for her facet however this time her set piece effort cannoned off a submit to security. Virtually instantly after that Edinburgh`s Louise Campbell levelled with a composed end at a breakaway. And that’s the way it ended.
Either side are clearly assured of a prime 4 place for the European play-offs – whereas Clydesdale Western and Wildcats are favourites for the opposite two. They usually meet on Saturday at Titwood. Final day out targets from Emma McDiarmid and Rachel Bain secured the factors for the Cats – not simple to foretell as either side are comparatively evenly balanced.
The apex of the lads`s Premiership is extra delicately poised following Grange`s latest defeat by Edinburgh College. Grange lead the desk by a single level from Western Wildcats and Edinburgh College, they usually play the previous at Fettes on Saturday.
Grange received the earlier assembly 2-1, Dylan Bean and Jamie Inexperienced had been on course, an identical consequence would maintain the Edinburgh facet in pole place. And subsequent wins over Watsonians and Uddingston would suffice. A draw would clearly swimsuit the Edinburgh college students whereas a Wildcats victory would put the Auchenhowie facet within the driving seat – so there are a number of permutations on the market. It may come all the way down to the ultimate sport of the season when Wildcats entertain Edinburgh.
Predictions are one factor…however when the stress mounts the end result can turn into unpredictable.
Edinburgh College is at residence to Watsonians and you’d count on the scholars to triumph – however earlier within the season they succumbed to a Dan Coultas hat-trick. However Watsonians have dropped out of a prime 4 place after again to again defeats by the hands of Western and Uddingston… so their latest type is just not nice.
Fourth place is now occupied by Uddingston, and to retain that place Tom Hyndman`s prices should take the three factors from their residence conflict with Hillhead. The latter have misplaced each their prime six matches 5-1 to Grange and Western, however did maintain the previous to a 1-1 draw earlier than the cut up – so they’re a drive within the land at instances.
And so forth to the disagreeable matter of relegation.
Within the girls`s desk Gordonians case for survival seems to be forlorn – just one level and a lack of 104 targets doesn’t make nice studying. In reality, the Aberdonians’ single level got here from a 4-4 draw with Hillhead – Saturday`s opposition within the North-East. However to rescue their Premiership standing they might want to take all three factors from Hillhead`s go to. Nonetheless, if the Glasgow facet hope to flee the play-off slot they should win to meet up with Glasgow College in tenth place.
Nonetheless, Inverleith aren’t out of the woods they usually may discover it troublesome taking three factors from their go to to St Andrews College.
And so to the lads. The once-mighty Kelburne are on the verge of computerized relegation, they have to beat Dundee Wanderers at Glasgow Inexperienced to avoid wasting their standing – not simple because the Taysiders have had a belated renaissance.
The hunt to keep away from the play-off spot seems to be to be between Grove Menzieshill and ESM who’re a degree forward. ESM entertain a Clydesdale facet which have recovered a few of their composure with two wins because the cut up whereas Grove Menzieshill are at residence to Inverleith. Whereas the latter are a couple of factors forward of the relegation zone, their latest type has been detached and solely a kick-start of type will assure security.