Tennent’s Women’s Premiership & National League | Preview 14 October
Find out all you need to know ahead of another weekend of Tennent's Women's Premiership and National League Division 1 action.
Kicking-off the competition this weekend, Garioch host Corstorphine Cougars at Kellands Park, Inverurie.
It’s been a tricky start for the league newcomers, Garioch have continued to make marked improvements in their performances each week.
Reflecting on the first five rounds in the competition, Nikki Simpson, captain of Garioch said: “We knew it was going to be a tough season moving up from National 1 but I cannot fault the attitudes from the girls.
“I said right from the start, this will be a learning season for us and as long as we keep improving each week, that is a positive in my eyes. The girls have been putting in an absolute shift each game and we are just continuing to train hard to make sure that we improve for the next.”
Looking ahead to this weekend, the skipper added: “We had a good chat after the Heriot’s game last weekend and have come back to training hitting the ground hard. Tuesday training was intense with lots of games. Tonight (Thursday) we have a great scrum session planned for the forwards to tweak some bits and the backs are going to be working on their slick moves. We’re really looking forward to this weekend!”
For Cougars on the other hand have only lost one game so far this season and will be looking to make this weekend’s game against Garioch their fifth.
Cougars Head Coach, Eric Jones said: “We know that Garioch will want to make sure that our trip up to Inverurie is not an easy one, so whilst they’ve not had a win yet, we cannot take them lightly. Every week their results have been improving and none more so than their latest game at home to Heriot’s.
“We’re looking to build on our performance from last weekend through at Stirling where a lot of things we’ve been working on came together.”
Garioch v Corstorphine Cougars – Kellands Park, KO 2pm
On Sunday, Cartha Queens Park will go East to face last year’s champions, Watsonians.
Having both lost their previous fixtures, both sides will be looking to get back to their winning ways this weekend.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s clash, Bruce Millar, Head Coach of Watsonians said: “Our performance against Hillhead Jordanhill was our poorest of the season but the response at training this week has been excellent and there’s real determination within the squad to produce a much better performance this week.
“We’re well aware Cartha were understrength when we beat them in the first game of the season and they’ll be a much tougher proposition this time around. We’ll have to be at our best to get the win we need to keep us in the mix at the top of the league.”
Watsonians v Cartha Queens Park – Myreside, KO 2pm
Our final game of the weekend sees Hillhead Jordanhill host league leaders Stirling County at Hughenden.
After four wins on the trot, County’s winning streak was brought to an end last weekend at home to Cougars, and this weekend they will hope to reignite the spark on the road to Hills.
Stirling County’s Forwards Coach, Megan Kennedy said: “We’re very much looking forward to our game on Sunday away to Hills. They are heading into this game with a strong win against Cartha and I’ve no doubt they will be up for it.
“We had a tough test last weekend, with Cougars getting the better of us at home. We have reset and refocussed this week and our aim is very much to put out a consistently strong performance for 80 minutes.”
Hillhead Jordanhill currently sit in fourth place in the table with 14 points, just one behind Heriot’s Blues, so if they are able to come away with a win or bonus points they could look to overtake the Blues and slide into third place.
Hillhead Jordanhill v Stirling County – Hughenden, KO 2pm
Heriot’s Blues have a bye this weekend and will next play on Saturday 22 October against Watsonians.
TENNENT’S NATIONAL DIVISION 1
Across in National 1, Ayr will welcome table leaders Biggar to Millbrae. This weekend’s hosts had a thrilling game against West of Scotland last weekend. Down three points at half-time, Ayr managed to retake the lead and close the game with four more points than their hosts (22-16).
Biggar, who currently sit one point clear at the top of the table, had a dominating performance against Howe of Fife last weekend (19-44) and will no doubt look to take that energy into this weekend’s match against Ayr.
Elsewhere in the league, Stewartry Sirens, who sit second in the table standings will face Howe of Fife. Last weekend, Stewartry hosted Broughton in a closely contested game. Leading 7-0 at half time, the hosts extended their lead to win with a second try in the final breaths of the game (12-0).
This weekend Broughton will go West to take on West of Scotland. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s defeats. If Broughton take a bonus point win against the hosts, they could overtake them in the table standings.
All three games kick off at 2pm.