Hockey: Captain Barr's double takes Grange to the summit

GRANGE have fulfilled Rob Barr's aspirations: they sit at the top of the Subway hockey national league along with Western Wildcats after a convincing 2-1 victory over Greaves Clydesdale at Peffermill.

Barr was the catalyst with the two setpiece goals that won the points, although the Grange captain did fall from grace a little when he missed from the spot in the first half. Grange took the initiative from the start and were rewarded in nine minutes. At the first penalty corner, the ball was switched to Barr whose miss-hit eluded the Clydesdale defence and 'keeper Greig Cunningham.

Grange were in control and were awarded a penalty stroke, but Barr's effort comfortably missed the right-hand post.

In 20 minutes Grange got a second penalty corner, but Martin Johnstone's high drag flick was well saved by Cunningham.

Clydesdale equalised against the run of play five minutes from the interval with a Gordon Munro tap-in. But Grange's winner was a personal disaster for Clydesdale defender Graham Dunlop. His losing possession resulted in a penalty corner and Barr's drag flick flew past Cunningham.

This score gave the Edinburgh side renewed confidence and further chances fell to Phil Sully and Duncan Riddell, but there was no addition to the scoreline.

Elsewhere, Inverleith relieved a lot of the pressure with their first victory of the season, a 3-1 home win over VWS Dundee Wanderers, Adam MacKenzie getting a brace. Edinburgh University gained a valuable point from a 3-3 draw with AMN Hillhead, Matt Connor, in the first half, and Callum Duke and Andrew Campbell after the interval the students' scorers.

Four setpiece strikes from Gavin Tomlinson was the foundation of Grove Menzieshill's 6-0 whipping of Aberdeen Asset Management, Gavin Byers and Olly James getting the others.

CALA Edinburgh continue to sweep all before them in the second division. They beat rivals Stepps 4-1 at Meggatland. Karl Clarke scored the only goal of the first half, but after the interval Spaniard Carlos Linero scored twice goals of his own and laid on the fourth for captain Mike Rea. Watsonians kept up their challenge for promotion with a comfortable 4-1 win over Chapman Motherwell.

In the women's league, Grange EL moved up the table with a 2-0 win at Giffnock, Kim Christison and Alison McIntyre finding the net. Kelburne remain in pole position with a 3-1 win at VWS Dundee Wanderers, thanks to goals from Claire McFarlane (2) and Laura Wrightson from the spot. Edinburgh University beat Western Wildcats 1-0.