Hockey: Birse backs new-look students

EDINBURGH University open their Division One hockey campaign on Saturday with a new-look side.

The students travel to Dundee Wanderers and have had to reshape their line-up due to the loss of four key players, skipper Will Butler, Andrew Duke (to Hillhead), Michael Witchell and Stewart Inglis (to Nottingham).

Duncan Birse, the vice-president, said: "Training has been going well for the last three weeks.

"We've recruited at least two new players. Traditionally, we're slow starters but we've had a good pre-season.

"We've played Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Hillhead and Inverleith in challenge matches.

"We beat Aberdeen, beat and drew with Edinburgh, drew with Hillhead and lost to Inverleith.

"We're optimistic and raring to go."