The Saturday Shinty Preview – Saturday 6 August 2011. | |
05 August 2011 A reduced shinty programme takes place on Saturday 6 August 2011 as several clubs opt to take their free Saturday to allow their players, officials and supporters to attend the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival. Scottish Hydro Premier Division Kingussie v Fort William Kingussie welcome Fort William to the Dell. The home side have manager Stevie Borthwick back from holiday but he is likely to have at least one eye on the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final tie against Kilmallie at Spean Bridge next Saturday. Kingussie ace marksman Ronald Ross could be amongst several players rested for this one. Alex Duncan is a doubt for Fort William as the An Aird men complete their fixtures with four away matches. Following their journey at the Dell, Peter McIntyre’s men face trips to Newtonmore, Kyles Athletic and Oban Camanachd. Kyles Athletic v Oban Camanachd Kyles Athletic will not want any slip-ups when Oban Camanachd visit Tighnabruaich. The sides have yet to meet in the league this season although Kyles secured a narrow win over their rivals in the recent Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final. Kyles are pushing hard to be the first South team to win the Scottish Hydro Premier Division but they have reigning champions Newtonmore and Fort William breathing down their neck. Oban Camanachd are one of three sides in the relegation zone on 9 points. They have games in hand over fellow strugglers Inveraray and Lovat but they also face a difficult run-in. They also have to take on Kyles at Mossfield and their other home matches are against Fort William and Glenurquhart. They have away games against Newtonmore and Kilmallie as well as a crucial trip to Balgate to play Lovat which can be considered a “four pointer” and which has been scheduled for Saturday 13 August 2011. Glenurquhart v Inveraray Glenurquhart and Inveraray meet at Blairbeg. The sides drew 3-3 at the Winterton recently and they both have differing targets. The Glen’s form has been up and down this season but they are fighting for fourth place in the league whilst Inveraray have a relegation battle on their hands. Inveraray have a Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi final tie against Newtonmore next weekend and whilst ‘More have a free week ahead of the tie, the men from the Winterton need to pull out all the stops to collect crucial league points. Marine Harvest North Division 1 Kinlochshiel v Lochcarron League leaders Kinlochshiel’s 100% record will be put to the test when near neighbours Lochcarron come to visit Kirkton. Forward Gordie MacDonald is a doubt for the home side as he has a knee injury. Lochcarron were without Ross Matheson, Kieran Murray and Gregor Cushnie last week and will hope to have at least one of the trio back. However Alan MacKenzie and Peter MacKenzie are doubts. A win for Kinlochshiel would put the title in sight and promotion to shinty’s top flight could be secured in the forthcoming away games against Strathglass and Skye Camanachd. This derby throws up at 3pm. Lochaber v Inverness Lochaber and Inverness were scheduled to meet again this weekend but both sides have agreed to rearrange the game for Tuesday 9 August 2011 at Glengarry’s Craigard pitch as Spean Bridge is being prepared for next weekend’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup semi finals. Only a first half Lachlan Campbell strike separated Inverness and Lochaber in the meeting at the Bught Park, Inverness last weekend. Skye Camanachd v Caberfeidh The match between Skye Camanachd and Caberfeidh will be rescheduled for a later date. Marine Harvest South Division 1 Bute v Kyles Athletic Bute play one of their two games in hand over leaders Glasgow Mid Argyll when Kyles Athletic visit Rothesay. A win for the Islanders will take them top of the table with ten wins out of ten. Bute and Glasgow Mid Argyll still have to meet home and away this season and these clashes will go a long way to determining the title destination. Lochside Rovers v Oban Celtic The Oban reserve local derby takes place at the Ganavan where Lochside Rovers meet Oban Celtic. A Malcolm Clark double helped Lochside to a 2-2 draw when the sides met earlier in the season. Kilmory v Ballachulish Second bottom Kilmory host fourth place Ballachulish. A Donald Wilson strike 20 minutes from time gave Ballachulish the points when the sides met at Jubilee Park earlier in the season. Taynuilt v Aberdour Taynuilt will start as favourites at home to Aberdour. However the sides did draw 3-3 in Fife just a couple of weeks ago. Marine Harvest North Division 2 Kinlochshiel v Fort William There is a 12 noon throw up at Kirkton where Kinlochshiel meet Fort William. The points are important to both teams for different reasons. Kinlochshiel are only a point off the bottom of the table whilst Fort William are emerging as the main challengers to league leaders Newtonmore. Kinlochshiel will have keeper Iain Cameron back between the sticks. Kilmallie v Glengarry Glengarry make the short trip to the Canal Parks to play Kilmallie. The home side will do a check on the fitness of Alexander MacIsaac after the youngster had three stitches inserted into a leg gash after last week’s loss to Glenurquhart. Kilmallie have no first team fixture which will be a relief as a couple of second team players were called into the first team squad last week to replace missing players. Marine Harvest South Division 2 Tayforth v Ballachulish Tayforth are at home to Ballachulish. Tayforth can leap-frog Strachur at the top of the table on goal difference if they win by more than a couple of goals. A Jamie MacDonald hat-trick helped Tayforth to a 4-0 win when the sides met at Jubilee Park in June. Inveraray v Bute Inveraray are unable to raise a team for their reserve derby against Bute at Tighnabruaich so the points go to the visitors. Marine Harvest North Division 3 Lochcarron v Caberfeidh Lochcarron take on Caberfeidh at Battery Park. Both sides are firmly mid-table after 15 matches Lochcarron holding a single point lead over their rivals so this is likely to be a close affair. Lewis Camanachd v Inverness Lewis Camanachd and Inverness meet at Shawbost. This will be the Islanders final home fixture in their fledgling season. Forward Donald Lamont is back for Lewis Camanachd (assuming he has got over the Malmo result) but they will be without Scott Murray and Daniel Gallagher. Inverness should have a strong squad aided by the fact that their first team match against Lochaber has been rearranged for next midweek. |