WOMEN’S HOCKEY

GROVE GO TOP Grove Menzieshill overtook Wildcats to take over pole position in the national league title race before motoring to a comfortable Scottish Cup victory to wrap up a highly successful weekend. Sarah Jamieson and Nic Skrastin delivered Grove’s league points in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Watsonians while a Jude McMullan hat-trick was the highlight of Sunday’s 4-0 result in the Cup rematch. Elsewhere city neighbours MJV Wanderers ran out of luck as their depleted squad went into reverse in both competitions. A solid team effort and outstanding shot-stopping from Carmin Dow restricted Scottish champions Edinburgh University to a three-goal advantage before Amy Snelle’s clever stickwork engineered a well-deserved consolation in response to Zara Malseed (2) and Hanna McKie. Travelling light for Sunday’s Cup encounter proved a step too far with Sam Sangster’s single not enough to counteract a disappointing 3-1 loss to Glasgow University. Wildcats’ claws were clipped for the first time when Clydesdale Western emerged from their Auchenhowie den with a 2-1 victory. Grove’s second string mirrored their top team with Ellie Stott, Amy Salmon and Lucy Smith sealing the Champ 1 win over Stirling University. Holly Duval added to a Stott double to steer safe passage through the Plate contest with their Watsonians counterparts. Vicky Carver’s brace claimed a welcome victory for Kinross over Ayr in Championship 2 while Catherine Wray also netted a double as their second squad ran up a 5-1 win over Dundee Uni III in Midland division 1 where Katy Alexander was Blairgowrie’s matchwinner over St Andrews III. Madras followed up their narrow win over Wanderers II by progressing to the Scottish District semi-finals with a 2-1 success over Glasgow Uni II. Jade Milne was on target both days with Alice Thomson also firing in. An overtime penalty corner denied Monarchs the chance to challenge Edinburgh Uni Vs in a penalty shoot-out with Laura Gray on the mark in regulation time.