Testing time in Division 1 for Inverleith

The pace hots up in Division 1 on Saturday as leaders Inverleith face two testing matches.

First up is Dunfermline Carnegie whose early form last week suggested that they might be a team to watch, but surely a much more experienced Inverleith will be too good.

Then it is the turn of Wanderers to face Inverleith. They, too, suggested in part that they could cause a major upset, but perhaps not with the consistency to really trouble Inverleith.

Wanderers’ first match against Grange will surely be more winnable.

Grove Menzieshill will have shaken off the disappointment of losing to Western Wildcats in their first match and will undoubtedly be comfortable winners against Clydesdale and Kelburne.

Menzieshill II will complete the first part of the competition with victories over Uddingston and Edinburgh University to enter the second stage with a significant advantage over all the other teams. The pressure will be on the other teams to jockey for position after the first seven games.

Teams in positions one, four, five and eight will form Pool A and those in positions two, three, six and seven will be Pool B for the second stage.

There is little to choose between Watsonians, Falkirk, Uddingston and Hillhead while Edinburgh University, Monarchs and Perthshire are somewhat adrift of the others. The spur for Monarchs is that they have to play Edinburgh University, Uddingston and Falkirk with a distinct opportunity to move up in the division.

Fixtures Tomorrow: Men’s Indoor National League Division 1 (Bells Sports Centre) – 10.10 Dundee Wanderers v Grange, 12.00 Clydesdale v Grove Menzieshill, 12.55 Dundee Wanderers v Inverleith, 15.40 Kelburne v Grove Menzieshill.

Division 2 (DISC) – 9.50 Perthshire v Watsonians, 10.45 Edinburgh University v Monarchs, 11.40 Uddingston v Grove Menzieshill II, 12.35 Perthshire v Hillhead, 2.25 Uddingston v Monarchs, 3.20 Edinburgh University v Grove Menzieshill II, 4.15 Monarchs v Falkirk.

Division 3 (Forthbank) – 10.10 Dundee Wanderers II v Grove Menzieshill III, 12.55 Harris v Inverleith II, 1.50 Aberdeen Grammar v Dundee Wanderers II, 3.40 Stepps v Grove Menzieshill III, 4.35 Harris v Watsonians II.