Grove aim to advance in ‘Scottish’

GROVE Menzieshill’s women’s hockey team reached the Scottish Cup quarter-finals by the easiest route possible.

Scheduled opponents Aberdeen University called off.

Grove play Western Wildcats on Sunday at DISC (2.30pm). The other semi-final is between Edinburgh University and either Hillhead or GHK.

Grove II also received a walkover from Edinburgh II in the Scottish Plate and will meet either Edinburgh University II or Clydesdale Western II in the semi-final at DISC on Sunday (1pm).

Madras defeated Dunfermline Carnegie to reach the District Cup semis where they meet Edinburgh University IV.

There is little to choose between Grove and Clydesdale Western in the National League First Division.

Grove are a point behind but have a game in hand.

That should make tomorrow’s clash at Clydesdale of high importance. The reality is neither is likely to catch leaders Edinburgh University.

However, the ultimate carrot of a place in Europe is determined by the top four play-offs and these two will almost certainly be involved.

Assuming they finish first and second, in either order, they will meet in the first play-off match.

Western Wildcats are fourth and in with a chance of the top three.

However, they face each of the top three and fifthplaced Dundee Wanderers before the season’s end.

Having played more games than the teams above them, Wanderers, who also have to make up a four-point deficit, are unlikely to go fourth.

However, they should win all three points at home to GHK, second from the foot of the table.

Neither Dundee University nor St Andrews University have the most difficult of tasks on Saturday against teams in the lower half of the table.

Dundee may have the better chance of picking up points against Edinburgh compared with St Andrews who are at home to Granite City Wanderers.

Both also have games in hand over Aberdeen University in particular but their chances of catching that Aberdeen side must still be remote.