Grove are well placed for run-in

Scottish club champions Edinburgh University will hold a three-point advantage over Grove Menzieshill when the title race run-in kicks off again in February, writes our women’s hockey correspondent.

Clydesdale Western and Wildcats are in the frame for the top four who contest the end-of-season European play-offs, while the target for a youthful MJV Wanderers squad is to finish best of the rest during the rebuild process.

National League Division 1 rankings: 1 Edinburgh University (27pt), 2 Grove Menzieshill (24), 3 Clydesdale Western (23), 4 Western Wildcats (21), 5 MJV Dundee Wanderers (17), 6 Watsonians (13), 7 Hillhead (7,-22), 8 GHK (7,-26), 9 Grange EL (6), 10 Kelburne (0).

Grove’s second string visit unbeaten Championship 1 table-toppers Clydesdale Western II, while Stirling University’s match-up with Waverley Inveresk Trinity would appear to be a more even contest.

Kinross host Uddingston in Championship 2.

The battle between the reserve squads from St Andrews and Dundee is too close to call with just two points between them after a 10-match string.

With Madras and Blairgowrie neck and neck in Division 1 both are on the hunt for maximum points against Dundee University III and Wanderers II respectively before local leagues head into the winter shutdown.

Perthshire II entertain Kinross II at Kilgraston while six points are on offer in the double header between St Andrews III and Brechin Thistles.

At Dawson Park Grove III can expect to strengthen their grip on the table against Division 2 debutants Madras II.

Dundee IV will lock horns with St Andrews V in the inter-university contest, and Perthshire III welcome Stirling Uni II to Kilgraston.

St Andrews IV and Monarchs has been put on ice until early February.

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