The Shinty Round Up – Saturday 14 August 2010. | |
16 August 2010 The attention turned to league action on Saturday 14 August 2010, with titles, promotions and relegation issues to be settled. There is no change at the summit of shinty’s Scottish Hydro Premier Division following the weekend matches. Bute headed for the Eilan in the knowledge that Norman MacArthur’s side has scored 50 goals in their 14 league matches this season making them top scorers. Therefore the signs must have been ominous when Danny MacRae fired the hoops into the lead with a goal in the opening minute. However Hector Whitelaw equalised with a neat finish on 15 minutes which took the side’s into the break all square. Bute had chances to take the lead but Newtonmore finally broke down the Bute rear-guard when Danny MacRae added his second on 66 minutes. Home full centre Jamie Robinson lobbed keeper Kevin Queen 4 minutes from time to secure the points. Fort William remain in hot pursuit of the leaders and they beat Glasgow Mid Argyll 5-1 at An Aird. Neil Robertson and Steven Stewart returned to the Fort William squad from suspension but Drew Ferguson missed out with an ankle knock. There was no repeat of the Fort’s 14 goal demolition of their rivals earlier in the season and in fact the sides were all square with just 20 minutes remaining. This was somewhat down to an interesting team formation from GMA who played with 6 defenders and just 2 forwards. The Fort withdrew a couple of defenders and added a pair of attackers but they did find it difficult to find space in front of the visiting goal. A 4 minute strike from Victor Smith gave the Fort the lead but an Innes MacMillan snapshot 5 minutes from the break squared the game. Second half doubles from James Clark on 70 minutes and in the final minute and Gary Innes on 75 minutes and 4 minutes later won Fort William the points. The Fort trail Newtonmore by 2 points but have 2 games in hand. Third place Inveraray enjoyed most of the pressure against Glenurquhart at Blairbeg but only came away with a point following a 2-2 draw. A first half double from Grant Griffin on 14 and 30 minutes put Inveraray 2-0 up but a Neale Reid strike on 41 minutes reduced the deficit. Neale Reid added his second just a minute in to the second half to level the game. The Glen had Calum Fraser sent off by referee Duncan Kelly but they withstood some late Inveraray pressure to win a valuable point. A Barrie Dallas goal on 35 minutes was enough to give Kingussie a 1-0 win over Oban Camanachd at the Dell. The King’s had other chances in front of goal but missed the prowess of the injured Ronald Ross. Oban Camanachd also hit the frame of Andrew Borthwick’s goal on a couple of occasions. Injured pair Iain Borthwick and Louis Munro also missed out for Stevie Borthwick’s side. Oban Camanachd now trail third bottom Bute by 4 points with a game in hand. Oban’s next outing is at home to bottom club Glasgow Mid Argyll and that is a “must win” game if they are to survive. They also have a meeting with Islanders Bute. Lochaber stay top of Marine Harvest North Division 1 following their 4-1 win over Skye Camanachd. To read a full report on the match, click on the following link xxxxxxxxxx There was a mouth-watering local derby at Battery Park where Lochcarron met Kinlochshiel and this one didn’t disappoint. Murdo Fraser’s Lochcarron side has been the league’s most improved team this season whilst Shiel welcomed buckshee back John Don MacKenzie back from suspension. The home side went ahead on 20 minutes through Alan MacKenzie but strikes on 33 minutes from John MacRae and Finlay MacRae 5 minutes later gave Shiel the lead at the break. Keith MacRae became the third MacRae brother to find the back of the net when he put Kinlochshiel 3-1 up on 57 minutes. However Shiel could not find the killer fourth goal and with 5 minutes remaining, Gregor Cushnie gave the home side hope when he shot past Graham Kennedy. This set up a grandstand finish and it was the home sides’ supporters who were cheering when Ian MacKenzie netted to earn them a share of the points a minutes from time. Kilmallie were in ruthless form as they beat Strathglass 11-0 at Canal Parks. Kilmallie confirmed their place in the championship race with good win over Kinlochshiel last weekend and they followed that up with another impressive win. Kilmallie had 7 different scorers with John Stewart and Peter MacIntyre grabbing the headlines with a hat-trick each. John Stewart opened the scoring on 5 minutes and his brother Martin Stewart made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later. Fraser Massie scored on 18 minutes whilst John Stewart added his second on 22 minutes to give the home side a 4-0 interval lead. Peter MacIntyre made it 5-0 a minute in to the second half and John Stewart completed his hat-trick a couple of minutes later to take his tally to 23 for the season. Liam MacDonald got on to the scoresheet as he made it 7-0 on 54 minutes and MacIntyre added his second on 70 minutes. Donald Lamont made it 9-0 on 75 minutes whilst Peter MacIntyre completed his hat-trick 2 minutes later. A Michael Rodger goal 3 minutes from time completed the 11-0 rout. A second half goal from Sean Stewart on the hour mark cancelled out a 22 minutes first half effort from Gordie Gray as Beauly drew 1-1 with Inverness. Beauly enjoyed most of the pressure but this is another good point for Inverness and they have now put a 4 point gap between themselves and bottom side Strathglass. Marine Harvest South Division 1 champions Glenorchy completed their league programme with a 100% record following their 6-1 noon win in Oban against Lochside Rovers. They can now look forward to life in the Premier Division next season. Oban Celtic came from 2-0 down to beat Taynuilt 4-2. First half goals from Neil Gillies after half an hour and Stewart Scott 3 minutes before the break gave the visitors a first half advantage. However Oban Celtic came back into it in the second half. Allan Miller pulled a goal back 10 minutes into the second half whilst Lee Askew made it 2-2 on 70 minutes. David Duffy in 74 minutes and David Hill in the last minute got the goals that clinched the points. A David MacPhee hat-trick and an own goal helped Ballachulish to a 4-3 win against Inveraray at the Winterton. Inveraray had won their last 2 games but this result leaves them 2 points adrift of Ballachulish at the bottom of the table. . Glenurquhart reduced Glengarry’s lead at the top of Marine Harvest North Division 2 to just 2 points with a 7-0 win over Beauly. Kelvin MacKenzie put them ahead with the opening goal after 10 minutes. Daniel MacKintosh made it 2-0 on 22 minutes and added another on 35 minutes. A Ewan Brady strike just 3 minutes later gave Glenurquhart a 4-0 interval advantage. Kelvin MacKenzie added his second on 55 minutes and Ross MacAulay bagged a double on 62 and 70 minutes to complete a comfortable win. It wasn’t that Beauly played badly in the game but Glenurquhart were clinical in front of goal. The Glen now trail Glengarry by 2 points but have a game in hand. Daniel Stewart and U17 forward Jack Fraser both scored hat-tricks as Fort William beat Kingussie 6-2 at An Aird. Rory Borthwick scored both King’s goals. Skye Camanachd beat Kilmallie 4-1 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree. To read a full report on the match, click on the following link (to be added) Lovat returned to the scene of their Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup success but this time they returned home empty handed. Drew MacDonald scored twice as Newtonmore beat Lovat 5-0 at the Eilan. Ackie MacRae, David Wilde and Chris Sellar got the others. Kyles Athletic were confirmed Marine Harvest South Division 2 champions following their 8-1 derby win in Bute. It was player / manager Roddy MacColl who got his side off to a great start with a 10 minute goal and a Peter Mobeck hat-trick also contributed to their win. Third place Tayforth were 5-1 victors over second place Aberdour in Perth. Stuart Ferrier grabbed a hat-trick for the home side whilst Jamie MacDonald and Donald Clark got the others. Ross Nicol got the Aberdour goal. The match of the day in Marine Harvest North Division 3 was in Aberdeen where leaders Aberdeen University beat second place Lochaber 4-1. Aberdeen University stalwart Jamie Bell scored twice and Kenny MacLeod and Willie Hunter got the others. Pat Toal replied for Lochaber. The Students now have a 6 point lead but Lochaber have 4 games in hand. Allan MacLeod set Inverness on their way to a 3-0 win over Strathglass with a 10 minute goal. Reece Munro made it 2-0 on 50 minutes whilst Brian McCain got the third 10 minutes from time. Lochcarron were unable to raise a team for their trip to Boleskine so the points went to the home side. |