Having trained well in the past couple of weeks, and enjoyed a pleasing 5-1 friendly win over Hillhead at Auchenhowie last night, the Men's 1s are in good shape for their return to competitive outdoor hockey at home to Dundee Wanderers (1400) this Saturday. They miss one or two players with Jonny MacDonald away for a couple of weeks and skipper Gavin Sommerville still getting over an injury. However, Dave Whiting has yet to let anybody down between the sticks this season and Luke Cranney's recent form has earned him a call up so Harry is pretty sanguine about things. Wanderers are toiling this year, second from bottom with just three points, so this really should be a home win.
The 2s go to Grange 2s on Saturday morning (1100) with a healthy looking squad. We make it fully three ex-internationalists plus plenty of first team experience. Perhaps the most interesting inclusion is emerging star Roshan Anderson. The young midfielder made his first team debut last night and looked very comfortable. This is his opportunity to make an equally positive impression in what will be a very competitive game.
The 3s are at Glasgow Accies (1530) without a few familiar faces but those who are available have been around the block a few times and should be able to cope. Accies take a fairly uncompromising approach to the sport and Western must match the opposition in this regard if they want to earn the right to play hockey in this one. This 3rd team is more than capable of doing that and they must see this match as one they should win to maintain their eight point gap at the top of West District Division 1.
The 4s took a 7-1 chasing last week away to runaway league leaders Ayr. Results of this nature are always going to come up now and then with all our U16 eggs in the one developmental basket but it hurt them all the same. This week they have the chance to get back on track at Auchenhowie against GHK 2s (1230). GHK are nearer the bottom of the league than the top and Western will expect to win in front of a decent pre-first-team-game crowd.
The 5s are away at Glasgow Green against Rottenrow (1630) in what virtually constitutes an evening fixture. The 5s have been organising themselves for fixtures for weeks now without actually getting a runout such has been the weather. Let's hope they enjoy the chance they finally get.
Also at Glasgow Green are the Women's 1s. The play Hillhead (1500) who are only a couple of places below them and making a decent fist of their return to Division 1. Wildcats will take a great deal of confidence from their exploits indoor as they aim to pick up from where they left off in November and continue to chase down Dundee Wanderers for fourth place and a spot in the European play-offs.
The 2s play Clydeside at 1530 at the club. Let's hope they keep their great run going with another win.