The SCOTS shinty team made a winning start to their Cuairt Camanachd an Airm - The soldiers shinty tour.

The SCOTS shinty club have set out to tour the main shinty playing islands over the period 10 - 19 September 2009. The team is based around two Battalions, The Highlanders (4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland) and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland).

The soldiers travelled from Germany and Canterbury to meet up in Edinburgh on Wednesday 9 September before playing their first game against Lewis Camanachd on Saturday 12 September at Stornoway primary school. The SCOTS ran out 7-1 winners with Donald MacKenzie grabbing a hat-trick and David Horne scored twice. Daniel Brennan and Robert Banks also scored whilst Patrick Sinclair found the net for Lewis Camanachd.

The SCOTS will now play on;

Tuesday 15 September 2009 against Skye Camanachd at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree - throw up is at 5pm.

Thursday 17 September 2009 against Bute at the Meadows - throw up is at 5pm.

The team will then attend the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final between Kyles Athletic and Fort William at Mossfield, Oban on Saturday 19 September 2009.

Team captain Hector MacKenzie from Skye is also the tour manager. He said, 'It is a great opportunity for some of the clubs less experienced players to play against some tough opposition and to raise the profile of the shinty club in the islands.”

The tour organiser, Captain Robert Stoddart, who is also from Skye, is disappointed to miss the trip as he is currently based in Cyprus.

The team returns to Germany and Canterbury Sunday 20 September 2009.