Hockey: Showdown time for title rivals

THE destiny of this season's Subway national league women's title will rest on the back-to-back confrontations between Grove and Milne Craig Western over the next two weeks.

Both sides have a perfect record and share the same points, but the Taysiders have their noses marginally in front with a better goal difference. That was augmented when Grove beat VWS Dundee Wanderers 3-1 in a midweek catch-up match with goals from Aimee Clark (2) and Louise Baxter.

Grove drew first blood this season by beating Western 2-1 in a closely-contested Scottish Cup final last weekend at Peffermill.

The game highlighted what could be Western's undoing, shyness in front of goal. They wasted four first-half penalty corner opportunities and then found themselves a goal down at the interval.

In contrast, Ali Bell, Ailsa Robertson, Nikki Kidd, Linda Clement and Aimee Clark are all regular contributors to the Grove score-sheet.

CALA Edinburgh take on Dundee Wanderers in the other First Division fixture.