Hockey: Grange are first team to dent Kelburne run

Grange became the first team this season to put a dent in Glynhill Kelburne's drive for a seventh consecutive Subway national hockey league title by holding the champions to a 2-2 draw at Bellahouston on Saturday.

After a nervous start Grange dominated the first half and Cammie Fraser gave the Edinburgh side the lead when he found himself with plenty of space in the circle and scored with a reverse stick shot. Within a couple of minutes Grange were two up, as Fraser slid the ball past the keeper following a cross from the left by Phil Sully.

Kelburne were a much more composed side after the interval and Mark Ralph pulled one back from the spot after Jonny Christie had been fouled. Within two minutes the champions were back on level terms when Michael Christie touched home a cross from Michael Bremner.

Kelburne recovered sufficiently to beat Western Wildcats 2-1 at Auchenhowie yesterday - Michael Bremner and Michael Christie scoring for Kelburne, with Wildcats' goal coming from Douglas Simpson.

Elsewhere, AMN Hillhead take pride of place by seeing off Greaves Clydesdale 4-3, Craig Patterson (2), Chris Caldwell and Andy Hilton doing the damage. In the other games Inverleith moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Edinburgh University while VWS Dundee Wanderers and Aberdeen Asset Management fought out a 2-2 draw.

High-flying CALA Edinburgh continue to dominate the second division following a six-goal whipping of Mango Optical Uddingston.

In the women's league a double from Rhona Simpson gave Giffnock a 2-1 victory over Edinburgh University to keep alive their title challenge. Milne Craig Western picked up six points in a double header, beating Grange 3-0 and then Kelburne 7-0, Sam Judge scoring five over the weekend. Grove Menzieshill still lead the division having thumped CALA Edinburgh 7-1, Louise Carroll, Aimee Clark and Ailsa Wyllie all scoring twice.

Grove Menzieshill completed an eminently forgettable weekend in Lucerne when they were relegated from the elite European Indoor Club Championships, losing every game in the process.

Having already fallen 10-4 to Polish side WKS Grunwald Poznan in the relegation pool, the Taysiders lost 8-3 to East Grinstead from England. The Scots lost the final game against Spanish champions Club de Campo de Madrid 7-4.