Hockey: Grange out to avoid a mauling by Wildcats

Grange captain Rob Barr was relieved to get the three points against Hillhead in last weekend's Subway National Hockey League fixture, but he is all too well aware that Western Wildcats at Auchenhowie today will be a much tougher assignment.

"We only just managed a win with Callum Milne's late strike.We made too many mistakes, we lacked composure at key points in the game and we need to take our chances. We know we need to play much better as Western away is always a very tough assignment," said Barr.

"We need to work on our defensive shape to cut down the options available to Western, also we need greater ball retention in attack and to make our possession count.

"Western always carry a goal threat with the forwards they have, so if you give them time to play then they can score goals."

Grange expect to be back at full strength with Barr himself likely to return along with Martin Kelly and David Knipe.

In the same fixture last season the Wildcats gave Grange a 6-1 mauling but the Capital side gave a better account of themselves at Peffermill, goals from Phil Sully and Yan Adams securing a 2-2 draw.

Over the years this fixture has been unpredictable and Wildcats coach Harry Dunlop said: "This match has so much history for both teams and this ensures that it will always be very difficult and close-fought. Grange also defend better than most teams in the first division, so again it's crucial we score all our opportunities."

Inverleith won their equivalent confrontation with Greaves Clydesdale 6-2 last season but much has changed in the interim.

The Edinburgh outfit have lost several key players. Playmaker Stephen Dick and Chris Grassick have signed for English premier league sides Reading and Surbiton respectively, Andrew Dane is living in Canada while under-21 internationalist Callum Milne has joined Grange. In compensation, former Durham University's Andrew Johnston and Waverley's Rob Hall have been recruited but coach Mike Gilbert may have his work cut out to stay in the top four.

Clydesdale have started the season with a bang, including a 10-1 demolition of VWS Dundee Wanderers.

Edinburgh University, without Olympian Graham Moodie who is in Scotland's Commonwealth Games squad, start their campaign with a trip to Tayside to take on Wanderers while AMN Hillhead entertain Aberdeen Asset Management.

In the women's league Cala Edinburgh take on Grange EL with both sides looking for their first three points. Edinburgh University are at home to Kelburne, who saw off Cala 4-1 last weekend.