Wanderers to be top of the Christmas tree

Having warded off four of their seven challengers in weeks one and two, MJV Dundee Wanderers complete phase one of their title defence at Bells Sports Centre in Perth today.

In previous years the seven-times champions have been nailed on favourites to sit top of the tree at Christmas.

The absence of seasoned campaigners meant big changes in this year’s line-up. However, the merger of a few old heads with teenage starlets has so far maintained the team’s winning ethos.

The proof of the pudding comes tomorrow when they kick off a three course programme against Wildcats before later confrontations with Hillhead and CALA Edinburgh.

Hot on the champions’ tails, and also gunning for pole position, former winners Grove Menzieshill and Clydesdale Western are gridlocked with relative newbies Edinburgh University.

On paper the Glasgow outfit appear to have the more difficult task with Edinburgh and Grove figuring in their schedule, whereas their rivals will anticipate banking points and increasing their goal tallies against Kelburne and CALA, respectively.

Whichever way the cake’s cut the raffle money will be on the current top four making their way through to the crucial European play-offs after the turn of the year.

Division 2 continues at DISC where Grove 2s and their Wanderers’ counterparts are not surprisingly losing out big time to first team squads.

Grove have their work cut out against Grange and Gordonians but could do some damage to Inverleith’s hopes while Wanderers’ best prospects of picking up points is against MCCW 2s.

Elsewhere at Forthbank Perthshire are the ones to watch.

With maximum points from previous outings their sights are already set on winning the Division 3 title, and having already triumphed over the Wanderers from both Stirling and Granite City there’s little to suggest they won’t deliver the same message again.