Scottish Hydro Premier League Title Race. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 October 2009 There is excitement at both the top and bottom of the Scottish Hydro National Premier Division as the league enters its final phase. We examine the prospects for the sides at the top and bottom of the table. Newtonmore have topped the table for some weeks now. They seem to have the ideal combination of a tight defence which has conceded less than a goal a game - 14 goals in 15 matches – and a free scoring forward line with 4 strikers – David Cheyne, Evan Menzies, Glen MacKintosh and Danny MacRae amongst the goals. Norman MacArthur’s side has just 3 matches left – all away from home. Trips to Lochaber and Inveraray are tricky but they are games that a side with title aspirations should win. ‘More have only dropped 4 points all season – 2 draws at home against Kingussie and Kyles Athletic and 2 away draws against Kyles Athletic (again) and Oban Camanachd and they remain unbeaten in the league. Therefore, if Kingussie continue to win their games, everything will likely boil down to the mother of all battles between these Badenoch giants at the Dell in what will probably be the last match season.
Newtonmore can finish the season on a maximum of 32 points. Kingussie have plenty experience of successful title run-ins but they have rarely faced such a great test in recent times than Newtonmore have presented this season. They trail leaders Newtonmore by 3 points but have a game in hand which they will play this weekend at
Kingussie can finish the season on a maximum of 31 points. Fort William already have the game’s major prize in their An Aird trophy room. A horrendous run of league defeats prevented them from having the chance to add the league title to their Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup success. This poor league run can be put down to injuries and the unavailability of key players at important times and it is to the Fort’s credit that the side rallied to win the Scottish. They have dropped a total 14 points this season – 7 at home and 7 on their travels. The Fort will fight for third place with Glenurquhart, Oban Camanachd and Kyles Athletic. With first team manager Drew McNeil considering his position and some senior players nearing the end of glittering careers, it could be all change for the Fort next season. They complete their league programme against Inveraray at Winterton this weekend.
Glenurquhart have had a dream season in the top flight following their promotion last season. They currently sit in fourth place with a couple of games left. They have 2 remaining away fixtures against South sides and they will be hopeful of playable pitches. Whatever the outcome, this has been a great season for the 2008 Marine Harvest Team of the Year.
Glenurquhart can finish the season on 22 points. Kyles Athletic have 3 home matches remaining. The Tighnabruaich side will be hopeful of taking something from each of their remaining games however they have only taken 6 points from their 6 home matches already this season. They will fight it out with
Kyles Athletic can finish the season on 23 points. Oban Camanachd also have 3 home matches remaining and they too have hopes of a 3rd place finish. Their remaining games are all at home and their record at Mossfield is good having dropped only 3 points out of 12 - a draw with Newtonmore and a defeat to
Oban Camanachd can finish the season on 21 points. Lochaber have 3 games left. They face a particularly difficult match against Newtonmore at
Lochaber can finish the season on 17 points.
Inveraray are deep in relegation trouble and few would have expected that at the start of the season. Indeed their league form is in stark contrast to their cup form which has secured the MacPhee & Partners Macaulay Cup and Glasgow Celtic Society Cup already this season. They have 4 of their remaining 5 fixtures at home but they do face difficult games. Inveraray have only picked up 2 points on their travels this season so they should take heart from the fact that their remaining 4 matches are at Winterton.
Inveraray can finish the season on 17 points. Glenorchy are already relegated and set for a return to Marine Harvest South Division 1. They have yet to pick up a point o the road and they only have a visit to
Glenorchy can finish the season on 6 points. |