It's quarter-final Sunday in the Scottish Cup with both first teams at home and hoping to progress.
First up are the girls who play Erskine Stewart's Melville (1230). We don't have to tell you how well Wildcats' season has gone so far and a cup semi-final place looks more than achievable given their form and the fact that they welcome Division 2 opposition to Auchenhowie. ESM are, however, a Division 2 side with ambitions of Division 1 hockey and look well in the hunt for promotion so Wildcats must avoid complacency and show the work rate and focus that has them pushing for a top four place in the league.
“We are missing a couple of players,” said Kaz. “That said, we really feel we have a strong enough squad to win the game. It’s a good opportunity for some of the players in the 2s to make an impression.”
The usually loquacious Harry Dunlop was uncharacteristically tight-lipped ahead of the Men's 1st Team tie against Gordonians (1400) sponsored by Avalon Vets. James Moran did the talking instead saying, "The cup is a great opportunity for something different. Obviously we are focused on the league and finishing in a decent play-off spot but this gives us a break and chance to get to the semi-final and a step closer to contesting some silverware. We have already beaten Gordonians here this season and we are confident we can do so again. Not only that, a win on Sunday gives us a wee edge ahead of our league game up in Aberdeen in a couple of weeks' time."
"The squad is in good shape just now and we were very pleased to win so comfortably at Clydesdale last week," he went on. "Perhaps the biggest plus at Titwood was Gary Maitles' performance. He has been getting better and better recently and he was the best player on the park on Saturday. We have slightly altered his defensive role and he is thriving on it which is very pleasing."
Also on Sunday the Men's 2s have a District Plate game up in Aberdeen (ooft) while the 5s have a trip to Uddingston and the Women's 3s have a home game against Strathclyde University 2s (1530).
There's loads of great hockey at the club on Sunday as well as the Six Nations rugby on in the bar. Come down and make an afternoon of it if you can.