Hockey: Duke takes heart from University’s unbeaten weekend

Duke netted with ten minutes remaining to secure a 3-3 draw against Hillhead last night with the thermometer at plus one.

The former Hillhead star took his weekend tally to five goals in two games following a treble in the students’ 4-2 victory at Aberdeen on Saturday.

Duke said: “I normally don’t score that many in a season but they have come at the right time. The win in Aberdeen was a real boost.”

The students host bottom club Watsonians on Saturday and now have 11 points from 11 games with Hillhead and Aberdeen both on eight points from ten starts.

Watsonians only have two points from their ten starts following their 5-2 defeat by Inverleith on Saturday. Yesterday, Inverleith led 2-0 and 3-1 but were eventually beaten 5-3 by Aberdeen. Inverleith, who appear safe on 15 points, looked on easy street when Adam Mackenzie netted from a penalty corner with a minute gone. He doubled the lead after 14 minutes with another penalty corner but Martin Babicky pulled one back eight minutes later. Tom Cousins popped in a third for the home side but Babicky made it 3-2 four minutes after  that. He then completed his hat-trick and the win was  cemented with goals from Borja Meissner and Ian Livingstone.