Western Wildcats Hockey Club

Indoor hockey is back in a big way for our 1st teamers. They begin the second half of their winter programme with two very tough fixtures each in Stirling Sports Village.

The girls, flourishing under the coaching of Kaz Marshall, play Grove Menzieshill (1000) and Dundee Wanderers (1340) on Sunday. They are second favourites in each but, getting better with every game in their debut Division 1 season, will not be taken lightly by the deadly Dundee duo.

Our boys play champions Menzieshill (1000) and league leaders Inverleith (1435) on Saturday and, like the girls, will not be expected to win. Again, though, Western have players who can hurt teams and so they are in with a shout.

The most pleasing thing for both is their very comfortable mid-table league positions. Given the inexperienced nature of both sides and the fact that indoor is necessarily prioritised second to outdoor hockey, both Kaz Marshall and Joe Simpson will be very pleased with how their sides have done thus far.

Our men's district teams play at 0930 (Team 2) against Hillhead and 1130 against Greenock (team 1). Again, these teams have provided a platform for our younger players to enjoy a taste of indoor hockey and Richard Biggins deserves huge appreciation for his leadership and organisation.

What is clear from the January fixture list is that participants in women's West District hockey are made of solid steel. This is surely the only explanation for their having outdoor games on the second weekend in January. Both 2s and 3s are at Titwood to play MCC Western (apparently the post-match teas involve George and John feeding their respective berserker hordes raw meat).