Return boosts Western

The Titwood-based women's club is perennially among Scotland's top three.

The returning ace is striker Sam Judge, who has been out of action because of a serious knee injury.

Judge made an immediate impact, finding the net twice in the 3-1 defeat of Dundee Wanderers at Bellahouston on Saturday.

After initial skirmishes in this crucial Subway national league fixture, the Glasgow outfit went ahead when veteran Helen Walker finished off her own defence-splitting move to touch the ball over the line.

Then Judge sent a rocket into the Wanderers' net following a pass from Ellie Cockburn midway through the second half.

The points were sealed when Judge converted from the penalty spot after her initial shot was illegally saved on the goal line.

Meanwhile, Laura Bartlett, the 22-year-old Beijing Olympian, has decided to enhance her prospects of further international success by moving closer to the heartland of Great Britain hockey — and has joined the Reading club.

The Glaswegian sports star — one of a pair of identical twins — was last week named student athlete of the year at the annual Glasgow sportsperson of the year awards.

City councillor Archie Graham, executive member for the Commonwealth Games, said: "Choosing the winners has been tough, but Glasgow's in great shape as we count down to hosting and competing in the games in 2014".

Bartlett is sure to be a member of Scotland's women's hockey squad that goes to this year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, and it was announced this week that Gordon Shepherd will be the squad's head coach.

Shepherd, a firefighter based in Dundee, is already coach to the Greaves Clydesdale men at Titwood, who are enjoying unprecedented success.

He is now taking an eight-month career break to help the Scots women to greater success.