Watsonians Face Uddingston Wall as Scotland’s Top Four Collide — Then Meet Wildcats in the Cup
Scotland’s top four are all in action on Saturday, and the game of the day is in Edinburgh, where Watsonians host Uddingston.
Watsonians have been averaging five goals a game, but they drew a blank against ESM Lions last week. Now they face the side that ended Western Wildcats’ perfect record with a draw last weekend. Uddingston are the wall right now, and Watsonians are the team that usually scores for fun. Something has to give.
The top four stayed unchanged after last week’s draws, so Saturday is about separation. Western Wildcats host Hillhead, and Hillhead arrive with a story of their own: their first win of the season came with eight goals against Dunfermline Carnegie, Amar Sagoo scoring a hat-trick. The Wildcats are led by Fraser Moran and are missing Rob Harwood, so this one might be closer than the table suggests.
Elsewhere in the men’s Premiership, ESM Lions host Grove Menzieshill, who sit third from bottom on four points and conceded two late goals to Clydesdale’s Luke Bannerman last week. Clydesdale host Inverleith, who have won back-to-back games and sit two points off fourth, but leaked 11 goals last weekend. Champions Edinburgh University travel to Kelburne after winning 11-0 against Inverleith last Saturday, with Sam Hunt, Keir Robb and Tom Cahalin all scoring, though they’re missing injured Jamie Golden, last season’s top scorer. Grange, who picked up their first win of the season against Kelburne, travel to bottom side Dunfermline Carnegie.
The women’s card
Watsonians host bottom side Glasgow University in the women’s Premiership, and Glasgow have leaked 29 goals so far. Clydesdale Western host fourth-placed Grange, with Bronwyn Shields in form after a double at Uddingston last week.
GHK are idle, and they’ll be watching closely. They went second after Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Uddingston, Lucy Williamson scoring twice and Jess Halley adding the third, with D’Arcey Campbell replying for Uddingston. They’re a point ahead of Clydesdale but have played two more games, so the chasing pack have games in hand.
Western Wildcats beat Hillhead 5-0 on Tuesday, Kate Holmes with a hat-trick, Alex Stuart and Heidi Logan from a penalty stroke also scoring, and they’re up to fifth. They travel to Edinburgh University on Saturday. Uddingston are away at Hillhead, and St Andrews University, seventh, travel to pointless Gordonians in Aberdeen.
And then the Cup
Sunday is Scottish Cup day, and the draw has been kind to neutrals. In the men’s last 16, Western Wildcats host Watsonians at Auchenhowie: both sides unbeaten, the leaders against second place, 24 hours after their league games. Edinburgh University host Inverleith, Grange travel to Grove Menzieshill, Dunfermline are at Dundee Wanderers, and Kelburne visit Gordonians.
In the women’s last 32, the only all-Premiership tie is Hillhead at Uddingston. A full weekend, and the top of the table could look very different by Sunday night.
