Neave still sure of title tilt after trio of indoor wins

STUART NEAVE’S side are still playing catch-up on Division One pace-setters Grove Menzieshill, but the Inverleith playcaller remains upbeat about the club’s chances of retaining the Scottish Indoor hockey title.

The holders kept up their challenge with a 10-2 win over Kelburne. Chris Grassick and Derek Salmond both claimed three goals each and Callum Duke a double. Adam Mackenzie scored two in their victory over stuffy Dundee Wanderers 4-2 in their second outing, while their final fling before the mid-season shut-down was a comfortable 10-5 success over Clydedsale.

Coach Neave said: “I was very happy with the performance in the first game against Kelburne, We were 6-0 ahead at the break, playing some good hockey against a quality side which included the backbone of the Scottish international outdoor team.

“Mark Fulton, Michael Bremner, Alan Forsyth, Willie Marshall and experienced Mark Ralph were all in the line-up.

“They [Kelburne] managed to claim two goals in the second-half but we played really well.

“The boys then secured two more wins on the day to leave us three points behind with the whole second-half of the season to go.”

Scottish Indoor League: Division One (men) Clydesdale 7, Western 12; Grove Menzieshill 11, Edinburgh 1; Grange 6, Dundee Wanderers 6; Inverleith v Kelburne; Edinburgh 5, Clydesdale 5; Western 4, Grove Menzieshill 11; Dundee Wanderers 2, Inverleith 4; Kelburne 4, grange 8; Clydesdale 5, Inverleith 10; Edinburgh 3, Dundee Wanderers 9 (all at Perth).