The Marine Harvest North Division 1 Title Race. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
31 August 2009 The Marine Harvest North Division 1 title race is hotting up to be one of the most exciting ever. We examine the prospects for the sides at the top and bottom of the table. Skye Camanachd have been early leaders in the division. This is mainly because their early cup exits have allowed the Islanders to play more league matches than their rivals. However as other teams have gone some way to catching up their fixtures, Skye remain top as other sides continue to take points off each other. Skye have 2 league matches left – both at home. They play Lochcarron on
Skye Camanachd can finish the season on a maximum of 23 points. Caberfeidh currently sit a point behind Skye Camanachd in second place. This has been a dramatic turn-around for a side that finished bottom of the league last season. Cabers have been particularly impressive on the road with a 100% record until last weekend’s league defeat to Kinlochshiel at Kirkton. However Caberfeidh have 2 difficult fixtures remaining - at home against Strathglass and away to Lovat.
Caberfeidh can finish the season on a maximum of 22 points. Third place Kilmallie have played 2 fewer games than Skye Camanachd and Caberfeidh and are 3 points behind the leaders. They were favourites to overtake Skye but dropped points against Caberfeidh and Kilmallie have dented their chances. The main difficulty Kilmallie seem to have faced in recent weeks is that they havn’t been able to get a consistent run of matches together meaning they have suffered a stop / start effect with their fixtures. Kilmallie still face a double header against Strathglass in their final 4 fixtures. Kilmallie can finish the season on a maximum of 24 points.
Lovat had put a run of good victories together prior to last week’s home draw with Strathglass and they have only lost once in the league this season. With 6 games remaining, they are many people’s favourites to bounce back up to the Scottish Hydro Premier League. Should they achieve 5 wins from their remaining 6 games, they would be crowned champions but such a run would involve winning in either Portree or Cannich.
Lovat can finish the season on a maximum of 27 points. Beauly have faded in recent weeks although they proved with their home win over Skye Camanachd that they can be a match for anyone on their day. Their defeat to
Beauly can finish the season on a maximum of 17 points. Strathglass still have 6 games to play and their league campaign has been interrupted by their Balliemore Cup success. They still have 4 games away from home but dropped points in recent weeks against Skye Camanachd, Lovat and Kinlochshiel have affected their chances of a return to the top division.
Strathglass can finish the season on a maximum of 23 points. Kinlochshiel have also had their run of matches affected by their cup participation. Like Lovat and Strathglass, they too have 6 games to play and like Skye Camanachd and Strathglass, they can also reach 23 points. They suffered a bit of a mid season blip after they were unlucky to go out of the Camanachd Cup to holders Fort William after extra time. It might be a lot to ask of them to win all their remaining matches but – with games coming up at home to Strathglass and away to Lovat and Kilmallie - the Kirkton side will at the very least have a big say in the final destination of the trophy.
Kinlochshiel can finish the season on a maximum of 23 points.
It has been a dreadful season for Lochcarron so far with no points from their 11 games played. They actually have a better goal difference than
Lochcarron can finish the season on a maximum of 10 points. |