Hockey: Grange coach Harper wants team to remain in top spot

GRANGE hockey player/coach Craig Harper saluted his men today after they beat Menzieshill 3-0, saying: "We've worked hard to get to the top of the table and we plan to stay there."

The Stockbridge team are now six points clear in Scotland's top division and led stuffy Menzieshill 2-0 at the break. Phil Sully netted after ten minutes and again ten minutes later, the first from open play and the second from a penalty corner.

Grange dominated the first half but the Dundee side upped their game in the second with goaltender Jeppo Torens making some key stops at crucial times to keep the Edinburgh side ahead. Then Callum Milne scored midway through to lead 3-0 and maintain his purple patch since leaving Inverleith. Harper's unbeaten men have now won seven of their eight games and travel to Hillhead on Saturday.

Elsewhere, under-strength Inverleith returned to form to edge Hillhead 1-0 at Meadowmill thanks to Ross Simpson's goal, his first for four years.

Second-placed Clydesdale fell 4-1 at home to neighbours Western and they are both on 16 points, six behind Grange, while champions Kelburne won 5-2 at Dundee Wanderers.

Meanwhile, David Patterson (CALA Edinburgh) fired a glory double as East beat West 3-1 in the Under-18 final of the Scottish District Championships at Peffermill yesterday.

Corey Hastings (CALA Edinburgh) scored the other in the victory which helped balance the spoils as the West under-16 side beat East 2-0 in their final.

And Inverleith women, who are third top of Division Three, yesterday advanced to the last eight of the Scottish Cup by knocking out Kelburne, who are third in Division One, after a penalty shoot-out.