Dark day as Dundee girls lose

DUNDEE Wanderers hockey women began the final of the Indoor First Division secure in the knowledge they had beaten their opponents, Clydesdale Western, in the league and group stage of the competition.

In the 14th minute, Millie Steiger won the ball on halfway and, with the Wanderers defence wrongfooted, netted the opener.

Almost immediately, Emily Dark had a penalty corner flick saved and the Western attack drew a fine save from Carmin Dow.

Western were having the better of the play but Wanderers levelled through Emily Dark.

This drew another attack from Western and another good save by Dow.

The game was transformed after the restart as Susie Gillman fired Western into the lead and Bronwyn Shields added a third seven minutes later.

Gillman then netted Western’s fourth.

Dark reduced the deficit to 4-2.

Western represent Scotland in the European Indoor Championships next February. At which level depends on how well Wanderers fare in this season’s event at DISC from the 23rd to the 25th of this month.

This is the top level of this competition with Wanderers facing teams from Germany, Spain and Austria while the other pool will contain teams from Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and Ukraine.

The form Wanderers showed on Saturday is not the form they would have hoped for in the lead up to the European event.

Grove Menzieshill faced Edinburgh University in a play-off for third.

Grove lost their first game on the opening day and the teams drew in the pool match.

It was no surprise that Edinburgh opened up a two-goal lead.

Judith McMullan brought Grove back into it and the game was transformed when Lauren Kingston equalised.

Kingston then fired Grove into the lead on 30 minutes after good leadup work by Ellie Stott, who scored a minute later.

Jamie Lyon chipped in with Grove’s fifth and those three goals in as many minutes decided things.

There are a few outdoor National League matches this weekend.