Wanderers’ hold on title broken in final

MJV Dundee Wanderers relinquished their Scottish indoor league crown to Milne Craig Clydesdale Western, with city neighbours Grove Menzieshill finishing in third place, writes our women’s hockey correspondent.

Wanderers, tipped to make it seven titles on the spin after topping the table in the league programme, passed up a couple of early chances in the grand final before Jess Buchanan’s superb reaction save denied a Ruth Blaikie snapshot.

The defending champions fell behind to a goal by Millie Steiger but Emily Dark rattled in the equaliser towards the end of a lively first half.

It was the slicker Glasgow outfit who came flying out of the blocks to immediately re-establish their lead through Susie Gilman before Sam Sangster’s fizzer went the wrong side of the post.

As the half-hour mark approached Bronwyn Shields opened up a twogoal cushion.

Blaikie, Dark and Amy Snelle all came close but Western’s well-organised defence stood firm as the Dundee side tried to retrieve the deficit.

Going to six outfield players backfired when Gilman slotted into an unprotected goal before a late steal and finish from Dark rounded off a well-earned victory for MCCW, who last held the trophy in 2007.

Grove Menzieshill avenged an earlier defeat by Edinburgh University to claim third with a 5-3 win.

Izzy Fowler and Becky Dru gave the students a 2-0 advantage but Jude McMullan and Lauren Kingston squared matters either side of the interval.

Kingston’s second edged the Dundee outfit ahead with youth internationalist Ellie Stott adding her contribution before Jaime Lyon rolled the scoreboard on to five. Ella Watt’s late setpiece was little consolation for the students.

Second division runners-up Grange were the morning’s shock troops as they gained promotion with a 4-1 win which dumped Western Wildcats into division 2 for next season.

Results: Scottish Hockey Gala Day (Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth): Grand Final/European play-off: Milne Craig Clydesdale Western 4 MJV Dundee Wanderers 2; 3rd/4th: Grove Menzieshill 5 Edinburgh University 3; Relegation/ Promotion (Division 1/2 play off): Western Wildcats 1 Grange EL 4.

● First round ties in the Knock Out Cup started the Midland ball rolling as the second half of the outdoor season got under way.

Grove Menzieshill IIIs topped the scoring charts with a 6-1 victory over Madras II.

Jojo Johnston and Pat Lindsay each hit the target twice with Lindsay McGovern and Isla McRobbie also netting.

Catherine Wray and Wendy Marshall eased Kinross IIs through against St Andrews University IV.

Madras automatically progressed to round 2 when Blairgowrie were unable to raise a team, while the Monarchs versus Wanderers II match was postponed to February 18.

A couple of rearranged league fixtures went ahead.

Perthshire II claimed the division 1 points with a 2-1 win over Kinross II, while St Andrews V beat Dundee Uni IV 5-3 in the second division.

The Midland Indoor Leagues take a snowdelayed curtain call at Douglas Sports Centre in Dundee tonight. The silverware has already been decided with Grove Menzieshill and Madras the respective winners of divisions 1 and 2.

Ellie Stott: scored as Grove Menzieshill clinched third place against Edinburgh University.