The Shinty Preview – Saturday 13 March 2010. | |
11 March 2010 The second weekend of the new shinty season throws up some interesting fixtures on Saturday 13 March 2010.
National Scottish Hydro Premier Division champions Kingussie will look to get their league campaign off to a winning start when they host Inveraray at the Dell. Kingussie’s new management team of Stevie Borthwick and Russell Jones will be without suspended full back Ally MacLeod. However they are hopeful that Lee Bain will have recovered from an ankle knock. Inveraray, under the leadership of new manager John Smylie, made a good start to their season with a win over Kyles Athletic last weekend. There must be some doubt as to whether this match can go ahead as the Dell remains under a covering of snow.
Fort William hope to follow up last weekend’s win over Oban Camanachd when the travel to Blairbeg to play Glenurquhart. The Fort will be without defender John MacLeod who will miss his sides next 3 games because of work commitments.
League leaders Bute host newly promoted Lovat at Rothesay. Robert Walker netted a double for the Islanders last weekend whilst James MacPherson and Fraser Gallagher were in good pre-season form for Lovat.
There is an all south clash at Tighnabruaich where Kyles Athletic meet Glasgow Mid Argyll. Both sides made losing starts on the opening day of the season and neither will want to run up consecutive defeats.
Oban Camanachd and Newtonmore met at Mossfield. ‘More should have Danny MacRae and Norman Campbell back which will boost their chances.
In Marine Harvest North Division 1, Kilmallie should be too strong for Inverness at Canal Parks.
There is another interesting tussle just down the road at Spean Bridge where Kinlochshiel visit to take on Lochaber. ‘Shiel were understrength in their 2-0 defeat to Beauly and will hope to have more options for this clash. Lochaber enjoyed a full training session last weekend.
Lochcarron will look to get over the disappointment of their 2009 league campaign by getting off to a good start this season. Beauly are the visitors to Battery Park and they will be difficult opponents after their win over Beauly last weekend. Beauly will keep faith with Jack MacDonald in the forward line as the 16 year old scored against Kinlochshiel last weekend. Beauly are left frustrated by the fact that new signing Marc McLaughlin will have limited availability because of work commitments.
Strathglass and Caberfeidh meet at Cannich. The home side has Brian MacKay at the helm, assisted by the club’s most recent former managers Robert Geddes and Garry Reid. They have suffered a loss in personnel with the absence of father and son Steven and Marc MacLaughlan and Lee Bain who has joined Kingussie. Strath have converted Garry Reid to the full back role. Caberfeidh keeper Archie Ritchie is now running the club’s second team so DJ Mellis comes in between the sticks.
The Skye Camanachd first team has a free weekend.
Kilmory will look to continue their good start in Marine Harvest South Division 1 when they travel to Oban to play Oban Celtic – their second consecutive match against Oban opposition having beaten Lochside Rovers last weekend. However the Oban side also won last weekend.
Reigning champions Lochside Rovers travel to Dalmally to play Glenorchy. Lochside have introduced a younger side this season so they may not hold the same threat as their 2009 side.
Inveraray and Ballachulish meet at Tighnabruaich.
The entire Marine Harvest North Division 2 programme was wiped out last weekend.
Last season’s league winners Glenurquhart travel to Balgate to play Lovat.
Beauly and Kilmallie meet at Braeview Park.
Newtonmore travel to An Aird to play Fort William.
Skye Camanachd and Glengarry drew 2-2 when they met at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree last weekend and their meeting at the same venue this weekend should be another close encounter.
Kinlochshiel will hope to get over their team raising difficulties of last weekend when they host Kingussie at Kirkton. Shiel will have many of their players back this weekend. Many of their younger players were on a school trip last weekend and Shiel were unable to field a team for their home match with Fort William. The Kings could well field an experienced second string this season with a few players stepping down from the first team.
In Marine Harvest South Division 2, Tayforth are looking to follow up last weekend’s win over Strachur when they host Aberdour in Perth. Aberdour will need to keep a special eye on Tayforth’s Stuart Ferrier who netted 5 goals last weekend.
Ballachulish take on Bute at Jubilee Park. Bute lost on the opening day of the season whilst Ballachulish were unable to field a side.
Col Glen are o the road again as they travel to play Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Strachur host Kyles Athletic. The sides had different fortunes last weekend – Strachur lost whilst Kyles won.
Aberdeen University make the long journey west to play Lochbroom in Ullapool in Marine Harvest North Division 3. Former Skye Camanachd player Kenny MacLeod is on form for the Students after bagging a hat-trick in the win over Inverness last weekend.
Boleskine await the visit of Caberfeidh at Farr. The home side lost out to Lochcarron last weekend whilst Cabers started life in the 3rd division with victory over Ardnamurchan.
Ardnamurchan look to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Caberfeidh when they play host to Strathglass.
Lochaber head to the Highland Capital to play Inverness at the Bught Park. Allan MacLeod’s side were under-strength last weekend and will hope to have a stronger squad for this weekend. This will be the young Lochaber side’s first league fixture. |