Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
ROUND-UP Byers, Martin strikes ensure GM stay third
GROVE Menzieshill remain third in the National Hockey League after their 2-1 win over Hillhead.
Neither team managed to find the net in the first half but Menzieshill then established a 2-0 lead.
A penalty corner by Gavin Byers and an open play goal by Paul Martin turned the tide in the Dundee team’s favour. Despite a penalty by Callum Duke, Menzieshill took the three points.
Grange’s win over Inverleith puts them three points ahead of Kelburne, who edge Menzieshill for second place on goal difference.
Dundee Wanderers moved up to sixth after their narrow win over Clydesdale and are now just out of the relegation play-offs.
Bobby Ralph, their main striker in recent seasons, was most influential with a hat-trick while Fergus Sandison, who has been influential since he first made the team, netted the other goal.
Edinburgh University’s surprise defeat of Western Wildcats means they and Wanderers are both on 11 points, two points above the relegation zone. However, the season is only halfway through.
Perthshire continued their winning run, five games in succession, against Harris at DISC.
Goals by Lewis Pyke, Mike Berry, Adam Czub and Mike Swan were sufficient to see off any threat from Harris and their victory was well merited on the balance of play.
However, Harris can take some hope for the future as their mainly young team came back from an initial two-goal deficit to keep in touch at 2-1 and 3-2 down, only to concede a late goal. Greg Whittet was the Harris marksman.
A goal apiece by Sam Tilston and Shaan Afzal earned Menzieshill II a point against Edinburgh University II. However, they will still be looking for a little better to move more securely i nto mid-table.
Wanderers II have Paul Dailly and Robbie Alexander to thank for the goals which gave them their fifth win in Central Division Two. They now seem to be coming to terms with the competition in this division, a step up from the Midland League.
Grove Ladies did their best to maintain the pressure on First Division leaders Edinburgh University with a 7-0 win over Hillhead.
Sarah Jamieson and Katie Robertson both netted twice and Erin Stevens, Jenny Walls and Jude McMullan added one apiece.
Dundee Wanderers switched their game against Clydesdale Western from Saturday to Sunday at Western’s request.
A close game saw a win for Western keeping them on a par with Grove, both four points behind Edinburgh University.
Edinburgh had a closerthan-expected win over Western Wildcats, partly as the latter are a very accomplished defensive outfit. However, they still maintain their lead at the half way point of the season.
This division seems to be splitting into a top five and a bottom five. However, the ultimate criteria for the European play-offs is to be in the top four and, for the relegation play-offs, to avoid the bottom four.