Costly defeat tips the balance against Grove

Saturday’s narrow win over Grove Menzieshill tipped the balance back in favour of Edinburgh University prior to the culmination of the National League race on April 22, writes our women’s hockey correspondent.

Sophie Maunder, Zara Malseed and Sarah Robertson ensured the defending champions remained on course for their third title on the spin, with Hanna McKie and Katie Robertson responding for the Taysiders in a ding-dong battle.

Grove proved their resilience with Jude McMullan, Hanna McKie, Linda Clement and Sarah Jamieson ensuring they shrugged off their disappointment to post a 4-1 win over Clydesdale Western.

It kept them hard on the heels of the leaders while maintaining a two-point advantage over Sunday’s hosts.

Elsewhere in the capital an under-strength MJV Wanderers were unable to repeat their previous week’s polished performance against a somewhat rejuvenated Watsonians.

The 3-0 reverse dropped them to sixth, a result which leaves them hovering just above the relegation pool play-offs with a potentially high-stakes encounter with Kelburne on the horizon.

Cala are officially relegated, to be replaced by GHK, champions of Division 2, where Dundee and St Andrews universities are seventh and ninth respectively.

Grove’s second string put in a late run to finish fifth in Championship A.

Goals from Alana Willox and Lauren Kingston kept a strong MCCW III on their toes before losing out 4-2.

Kinross’ struggles continued as they lost seven without reply to Edinburgh University II, runners up to champions MCCW II.

Championship B will go to the wire but the local representatives are well off the pace.

St Andrews II are best placed in seventh, Perthshire are ninth, with Dundee University II sharing the bottom rung of the ladder.