Hockey: Teenager Imrie hits four goals to help Grange edge closer to European spot

Grange have almost certainly assured themselves of a place in Europe next season with an 8-1 demolition of CALA Edinburgh, a result that keeps them in second spot, seven points ahead of Western Wildcats, who have a game in hand.

Grange were three up at the interval through Martin Johnston, Cammie Fraser and Colin McIver. But the second-half belonged to 15-year-old Hamish Imrie, with the Fettes pupil scoring four goals and Gary Cameron notching the other. “Hamish has a lot of potential and, this season, I have drip fed him into the squad so that he’s not under too much pressure,” said Grange coach Colin Clarke.

Inverleith’s bid for Europe foundered when they went down 5-2 to the Wildcats at Auchenhowie and surrendered third place in the table. A first- half hat-trick by Douglas Simpson was the catalyst for the Wildcats’ victory before slackness in the Wildcats’ defence allowed Ross Jamieson to pull one back for the Edinburgh outfit. However, at the interval the Wildcats were 4-1 ahead after Ian Moodie slotted home.

An Inverleith comeback looked on when a penalty corner routine allowed Phil Hall to make it 4-2, but McCartney quickly ended their hopes when he scored the fifth.

CALA’s survival campaign was helped when relegation rivals AMN Hillhead went down 4-2 to Grove Menzieshill. But time is running out for CALA as they still trail Hillhead by three points and the Glasgow side have a game in hand. In the final game, Greaves Clydesdale beat already-relegated VWS Dundee Wanderers 3-0 on Tayside.

In the women’s league, Grove looked like surrendering pole position in the table when they reached the interval a goal down to Tayside rivals Dundee Wanderers. But they retaliated in style in the second-half with four goals in seven minutes from Ailsa Wyllie(2), Ali Bell and Louise Campbell.

Meanwhile, Western kept up the pressure by seeing off Wildcats 3-0 at Auchenhowie. Fiona Bruce had put Western in front with the only goal of the first half. After the break, the result was sealed with further goals from Anna-Mae Morton and captain Catriona Ralph from a penalty corner.

Yesterday, Western progressed to the semi-finals of the women’s Arthur McKay Scottish Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Edinburgh University. Holly Cram opened the scoring for the Glasgow side with her first touch of the ball after coming on as substitute. The students had their chances, though, with Sam Judge hitting the side netting, then striking a post from a penalty corner. However, the result was sealed when Catriona Ralph added the second with a direct shot from a set piece.

CALA Edinburgh produced the surprise result of the round with a 3-2 win over Giffnock. Emma Watson(2) and Amber McNeill were the scorers. Elsewhere, a late strike from Leigh Fawcett gave Grove a narrow 3-2 victory over Kelburne and Dundee Wanderers saw off Wildcats 4-0.

There were no shocks in the men’s cup quarter-finals, Grange beating AMN Hillhead 5-1 in the all-first division clash while Western Wildcats, Glynhill Kelburne and Inverleith edged past sides from lower divisions.