Hockey: Dominant Dundee take women’s title

By CRAIG MADDEN
Published on 04/02/2013 00:20

Dundee Wanderers took the women’s indoor first division title with consummate ease when they defeated Kelburne 5-2 in the opening encounter of the day, then whipped third placed CALA Edinburgh 13-2, results that gave the Taysiders an unassailable lead of five points over city rivals Grove Menzieshill at the top of the table with one game still remaining.

The clinical demolition of CALA started in the opening two minutes when playmaker Vikki Bunce diverted a Becky Ward pass into the roof of the net. Rachel Osborne doubled the score five minutes later with a fierce penalty corner strike. Rebecca Trimble pulled one back with a close range effort which crawled into the net. Thereafter it was one-way traffic for the Dundonians. Amy Rowan made it three with a deft deflection, Bunce scored her second and Osborne added a fifth on the stroke of half-time.

There was no sitting on their laurels for the champions-elect, as a minute into the second half Rowan pounced, then Sam Sangster from a set piece followed by Becky Ward raising the score to 8-1. The slaughter continued, 14-year-old Charlotte Watson, Fiona Plain and Osborne again for her hat-trick pushed the Tayside total to 11-1. In the dying minutes Amy Brodie tapped in a consolation for CALA but Bunce had the final say with a late double to bring her total to four.

Wanderers finished their programme in style and with a perfect record with a resounding 11-2 win over Grove, again Bunce the catalyst with five goals, two each for Heather Elder and Amanda Maxwell, while Osborne and Rowan alsoscored.

In the opening game struggling Kelburne were not subject to the same humiliation, perhaps the Taysiders were saving their energy. Nonetheless, Wanderers were 3-0 up at the interval, Sangster opening from a penalty corner while Bunce added two more. Emma Barlow pulled one back for the Paisley side and that is how the score remained until the final minute. In a flurry of goals Bunce completed her hat-trick and Osborne added a fifth before Barlow again notched a consolation.

CALA won their earlier fixture against bottom side Granite City Wanderers 5-2, and held on to their third spot in the league with a 4-2 win over Western.

At the other end of the table Inverleith were finally relegated when they went down 7-3 to second placed Grove and rivals Kelburne picked up a crucial three points with a 4-1 win over Granite City. Inverleith finished their short stint in the top flight with a 3-2 defeat by Wildcats.