Valuable points were at stake as clubs battled for championships and against relegation on Saturday 17 October 2009.

In the Scottish Hydro Premier League, all 4 matches took place in the South. Reigning champions Kingussie closed the gap on leaders Newtonmore to a single point with a 2-1 win on a heavy Rothesay pitch against Bute. Not for the first time, the King’s gave thanks for Ronald Ross as the game’s top goalscorer blasted 2 backhand efforts past Kevin Queen on 15 minutes and 25 minutes to gave his side a 2-0 half time lead. Stewart Strathie pulled a goal back for Bute with a strike 15 minutes from time but Jimmy Gow’s side saw out the remainder of the game to clinch the points. Both sides now have 3 matches remaining including a crucial clash between the teams at the Dell. Newtonmore also have trips to Inveraray - this weekend - and also a visit to Spean Bridge to play Lochaber. Both these sides are battling for points to see off relegation. Kingussie also have to a couple of trips South to play Kyles Athletic and to Mossfield to play Oban Camanachd.

Glenurquhart and Kyles Athletic shared 6 goals and the points in an exciting match at Tighnabruaich. Fraser MacDonald gave the home side the lead after 11 minutes and Dunkie Kerr gave them a 2-0 interval lead with a goal after 35 minutes. Glenurquhart came out fighting after the break and Eddie Tembo scored a minute into the second period to reduce the deficit. Lewis MacLennan levelled the match on 53 minutes and 14 year old Ewen Brady – making his top division debut after some fine performances for the second team – gave them the lead on 67 minutes but a goal from Dave Martin on 74 minutes ensured a share of the points.      

A Scott MacMillan double gave Oban Camanachd a 2-0 win over Lochaber at Mossfield. The visitors had Ian Love sent off. The 2 points mean that Oban Camanachd still have a chance of finishing third in the table.

Fort William travelled to Winterton to play Inveraray but it was the home side who earned 2 priceless points in their fight to survive the drop. Their 3-1 victory came courtesy of a Grant Griffen double and a Gary MacPherson goal. Victor Smith was on target for the Fort. The victory now gives Inveraray a 2 point advantage over Bute who occupy the second relegation spot. It remains to be seen whether this will be Drew McNeil’s final match as Fort William manager.   

Lovat were left frustrated in Marine Harvest North Division 1 as their match against bottom club Lochcarron at Balgate was postponed as the visitors had team raising difficulties. The match will be played at a later date but its Inverness at home next for Lovat in what is their other remaining fixture. Kilmallie are ready to take advantage of any dropped points.

It’s turning out to be a miserable end of season for Strathglass who went down 6-0 to Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. Keith MacRae gave Shiel the lead on 20 minutes and his brother John MacRae made it 2-0 just 5 minutes later. John MacRae added his second right on the stroke of half time to give the home side a 3-0 advantage. Fraser MacVicar made it 4-0 on 70 minutes and Neil Fraser got in on the act with a goal 10 minutes later. John MacRae completed his hat-trick 5 minutes from the end to complete a 6-0 rout.

It was sixth time lucky in Marine Harvest South Division 1, as Ballachulish and Kilmory finally met at Jubilee Park. Kilmory have everything to play for as they do battle with Kyles Athletic for second place in the league which will likely lead to promotion to the Scottish Hydro Premier Division. However the went in to the game without veteran Calum McKinven, Gavin Park and Ally MacDonald. Those who did play didn’t disappoint though and goals from all 4 forwards sealed a 4-1 win. After an uneventful first half, Hal Jones gave Kilmory the lead just 2 minutes into the second half. Steven Gilmour made it 2-0 on 52 minutes and Alex Cunningham notched a third 6 minutes later. His brother Andy Cunningham scored Kilmory’s fourth on 70 minutes and although David Grant pulled a goal back for Ballachulish 5 minutes from the end, the outcome was never in doubt. This was the first senior shinty match played at Jubilee Park since the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final double header on 15 August 2009 and the win sets Kilmory up nicely for next week’s match against Glasgow Mid Argyll.

The match between Inveraray and Tayforth was postponed as Winterton was unable to take 2 matches and the Inveraray, Fort William game took precedent.

The Marine Harvest North Division 2 fixtures saw the league’s 5 bottom club’s in action with Newtonmore and Kilmallie being the main beneficiaries. Caberfeidh hosted third bottom Kilmallie at Castle Leod but the league’s bottom club were no match for the visitors who won 6-2. It took just 3 minutes for the Canal Parks men to take the lead with Sebastian MacMillan on target. Craig MacPhee made it 2-0 on 29 minutes but Alan Ross pulled a goal back on 38 minutes. Nick Lavin made it 3-1 on 42 minutes and Sebastian MacMillan scored his second a minute before the break to give Kilmallie a 4-1 half time lead. Scott MacLean pulled a goal back on 55 minutes but MacMillan went on to complete his hat-trick on 75 minutes. Lewis Burrell completed the scoring when he made it 6-2 in the final minute. Kilmallie now move level on points with seventh place Skye Camanachd with each side having one game left. Skye Camanachd face fourth place Newtonmore whilst Kilmallie face second bottom Kinlochshiel.   

Newtonmore have made it 7 consecutive victories following their 8-0 win over Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. A strong Newtonmore side travelled for this 12 noon throw up and North U17 player Chris Sellar gave them the lead after 5 minutes. Full forward David Wilde doubled their advantage on 22 minutes and John MacKenzie got in on the act when he made it 3-0 with just 19 minutes on the clock. Sellar scored his second on the half hour mark and Wilde also notch a first half double a minute before the break to give the visitors a 5-0 interval lead. Few would have bet against Wilde and Sellar going on the complete their hat-tricks and they did just that with the former scoring on 48 minutes and the latter finding the net on 70 minutes. In between times there was a 65 minute goal from G Latimer and Newtonmore returned home with both points.  

Skye Camanachd travelled to An Aird to play last season’s champions Fort William more in hope than expectation as an entire team of eligible players were unavailable for the game. Even second team manager Davie MacVicar was on holiday so second team stalwart David Grant took charge of the side. His side ended up on the wrong end of a 5-3 score but Grant must have been delighted with the effort and performance from his make-shift side. In the end, Skye had no answer to Fort William’s James Cameron who scored all 5 Fort William goals. Cameron gave the home side the lead on 22 minutes but Angie MacDonald levelled a minute from the break. Cameron bagged his second goal 6 minutes into the second half and he completed his hat-trick on 71 minutes. Cameron made it 4-1 just 3 minutes later and he found the back of the net for the fifth time 10 minutes from the end. However Skye went down fighting and 14 year old Calum Gibb marked his second team debut with a goal after 82 minutes whilst Angie MacDonald scored his second goal 3 minutes later as the Fort emerged 5-3 victors.  

The match between Glengarry and champions Glenurquhart was removed from the fixture list.

Marine Harvest South Division 2 champions Taynuilt travelled to Dalmally to play Glenorchy. Taynuilt have done terrifically well since reforming 2 years ago and they maintained their 100% record with a 3-1 win. Their scorers were Alec MacVicar and a brace from Willie Neilson. John Smith replied for Glenorchy.  

Kyles Athletic and Bute met at Tighnabruaich. Kyles were 2-0 winners when the sides met in Rothesay on the opening day of the season and they completed the double over Bute with a 5-1 win in this 12 noon throw up. Peter Mobeck and Alistair MacKay each scored doubles with Craig Martin getting their other.

In Marine Harvest North Division 3, Seventh place Inverness ran out 3-0 winners against eighth place Lochcarron at the Bught Park, Inverness. Fraser Heath gave Inverness the lead after 10 minutes and Allan MacLeod made it 2-0 on 75 minutes. Stewart MacRae completed the scoring when he made it 3-0 just 5 minutes from the end. The win gives Inverness a 5 point advantage in the league but Lochcarron have 2 games in hand.

The match between fourth place Lochaber and sixth place Boleskine was postponed as the Spean Bridge pitch was unplayable.