The shinty fixtures list suffered an April washout with only 15 games going ahead on Saturday 2 April 2011.
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup - Preliminary Round
Two second half Roberto Zavaroni strikes helped Bute to a 4-2 win over Caberfeidh at the Meadows. Robert Walker drew first blood for Bute when he scored in the opening minute. However the sides went into the interval all square when referee Robert Baxter awarded Cabers a penalty. Lee Nicol stepped up to convert. Roberto Zavaroni restored Bute’s lead 10 minutes into the second half and he added his second a on the hour mark. A Graham Fisher strike made it 4-1 on 80 minutes from time and although Mark MacDonald pulled a goal back for the visitors just 4 minutes from time, Bute, who had Hector Whitelaw in defence, ran out 4-2 winners. Bute now face an all-island clash at home to Skye Camanachd in the next round.
Lochaber were too strong for Ballachulish at Spean Bridge with the home side running out 8-0 winners. Lochaber manager Michael Delaney had Scottish international Neil MacDonald and he and Hughie Innes formed a strong centre line either side of full centre Fleck MacDonald. Ben Delaney got Lochaber off to a great start with a goal in the first minute. Scottish international Shaun Nicolson made it 2-0 on 36 minutes whilst a Lachlan Campbell double on 40 and 47 minutes made it 4-0 and ended the tie as a contest. Shaun Nicolson then scored on 50 and 68 minutes to complete his hat-trick and make it 6-0. Late strikes from Martin Johnston after 75 minutes and Stewart Callison on 83 minutes completed the scoring. Lochaber now travel to play Oban Celtic in the first round.
The match between Strathglass and Aberdour was postponed as the pitch at Cannich was unplayable.
Ballachulish, Beauly, Glasgow Mid Argyll, Inverness, Kilmory, Kinlochshiel, Lochcarron, Oban Celtic and Skye Camanachd all received byes into the first round.
Scottish Hydro Premier Division
There was a full programme in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division and Glenurquhart achieved the result of the day with a 1-0 win over Newtonmore at the Eilan. ‘More had scored 21 goals in their opening 3 games this season and Glen boss Jim Barr pinpointed Danny MacRae as their danger-man. MacRae scored 9 of his side’s goals and that didn’t include the hat-trick he bagged in the abandoned league match against Lovat. Manager Barr tasked his son John Barr with the job of marking MacRae and he performed admirably at full back. The Glen, who were without Andrew Corrigan, may have found goals hard to come by this season but they have been impressive in defence. Neale Reid grabbed the only goal of the game 10 minutes into the second half which means his side has taken three points out of four against Badenoch sides Kingussie and Newtonmore this season.
League leaders Kyles Athletic took full advantage of Newtonmore’s defeat when they beat Inveraray 3-2 at the Winterton. Goals from Roddie MacDonald on 4 minutes, Fraser MacDonald on 17 minutes and Dunkie Kerr on 57 minutes saw the visitors’ race into a 3-0 lead. However an Inveraray fight-back with goals from David Robertson on 63 minutes and Ewan MacMurdo 10 minutes from time give Kyles a nervy end to the match. It’s Fort William at An Aird next for Kyles.
Both the league’s newly promoted sides met as Glenorchy hosted Kilmallie. Liam MacDonald got the visitor’s off to a good start with a 12 minute goal. John Stewart scored a crucial second goal on the stroke of half time to make it 2-0. Glenorchy pulled a goal back from the penalty spot on 78 minutes through Grant MacPherson following the award by referee, and former Kilmallie player, Deek Cameron. However Liam MacDonald added his second 5 minutes from time to give Kilmallie a deserved 3-1 win and their first points of the season.
Lovat earned their first point of the season following a goalless draw with Fort William at Balgate. Fort manager Peter McIntyre had to do without Kyle Grant who was sent off against Strathglass last week and he resisted the temptation to start with Liam McIntyre who was free of suspension so the former Oban Camanachd defender started on the bench. Fort William enjoyed the early pressure with one Gary Innes effort cracking off the cross-bar. Lovat responded and a good ball from Ryan Ferguson forced keeper Paul MacKay to step out from his goal to deny Greg Matheson and clear the danger. Ryan Ferguson then forced a good save from Paul MacKay with a good 25 yard shot from the left. Gary Innes then forced a tidy save with his feet from Lovat keeper Stuart MacDonald. Bryan Simpson was next to hit the frame off the goal as Fort pressed for the break-through. MacDonald then saved well with his foot, low at his left post, from a Gary Innes snap-shot. The home keeper then made another great save with his hand from Innes again. Lovat introduced former Skye Camanachd player Iain Nicolson for the final 10 minutes. Both sides created chances before Gary Innes had the ball in the net but referee John MacLeod had clearly blown for an earlier infringement in the Fort’s favour and this was the nearest either side came to breaking the deadlock before the final whistle.
Kingussie gained some revenge for their 2-1 defeat to Oban Camanachd at the Dell last weekend when they beat the Oban side 2-0 at Mossfield. James Hutchison scored both the visitors goals. The first came from the penalty spot following an award from referee Charles Young. Hutchison added his second on 49 minutes and his side stayed in control for the remainder of the game.
Marine Harvest North Division 1
Both the scheduled matches between Inverness and league leaders Kinlochshiel at the Bught Park and Beauly and Skye Camanachd at Braeview Park were postponed because of the heavy overnight rain in the Inverness-shire area.
Marine Harvest South Division 1
League leaders Lochside Rovers stay top despite their 5-1 defeat at Taynuilt. David Campbell set Taynuilt on their way with the opening goals after 15 minutes and a Stuart Scott goal a minute before the break gave them a 2-0 half time lead. Mark Beaton made it 3-0 on 50 minutes whilst strikes from Willie Gillies on 75 minutes and Michael MacQueen 3 minutes later put them 5-0 in front. Daniel MacKinnon pulled a consolation goal back for Lochside Rovers a couple of minutes from time.
Oban Celtic and Glasgow Mid Argyll also met for the second successive Saturday. It took a second half Fulton Ross goal to separate the sides in a 7 goal thriller at Yoker last weekend and Mid Argyll repeated the same scoreline in this game too. Oban Celtic were without Iain MacKechnie who was sent off in last week’s clash between the sides. Andy Mathie put visitors Mid Argyll ahead on 6 minutes but an own goal on 31 minutes levelled the game at the break. Craig Anderson continued on the goal trail with a 53 minute effort but Kenny Wotherspoon made it 2-2 a couple of minutes later. Wotherspoon added his second on 61 minutes but Gary Luke’s 70 minute strike made it 3-3. It was left for Craig Anderson to be the Mid Argyll hero when he snatched his second goal 3 minutes later to give his side a 4-3 win.
The match between the Kyles Athletic reserve team and Kilmory at Tighnabruaich was postponed because of a bereavement.
Marine Harvest North Division 2
Newtonmore took the honours in the reserve Badenoch derby when they beat Kingussie 5-1 at the Dell. Newtonmore, who also won both meetings between the sides last season, had Ackie MacRae, David Wylde, Ross Aitken, Chris Sellar and Angus Gray on target. Kevin Thain was back in the King’s side and he got their goal. The result means Glengarry take over from Kingussie at the top the table on goal difference without actually playing. Newtonmore go second, ahead of third place Kingussie.
Skye Camanachd were 5-1 winners over Lochaber at Pairc nan Loach, Portree. Click on the following link to read a full match report
The matches between Kilmallie and Glenurquhart the Canal Parks, Fort William and Kinlochshiel at An Aird and Glengarry and Lovat at Invergarry were all postponed because of unplayable fields.
Marine Harvest South Division 2
Strachur enjoyed a 4-0 home win over Inveraray. Rhys Campbell got the opener, Steven Bulloch added a double and James Roy rounded off a 4-0 victory.
Tayforth were awarded the points from the match against Glasgow Mid Argyll as the visitors were unable to raise a team. This should keep Tayforth top of the table.
Col Glen were awarded the points from their home match against Aberdour as the visitors were unable to raise a team.
The match between Ballachulish and Bute was postponed as Jubilee Park was unplayable.
Marine Harvest North Division 3
Aberdeen University made it five wins out of five with a 3-1 home victory over Lochcarron. Rory Campbell put them ahead after 12 minutes and top marksman Kenny MacLeod was again on target after 20 minutes. Veteran Gregor Cushnie pulled a goal back for Lochcarron after 65 minutes but the home side’s own veteran, Jamie Bell, made it 3-1 just 10 minutes from the end. The win means that the students go two points clear at the top of the table.
Boleskine and Caberfeidh both had 4 points from their opening 3 games ahead of their meeting at Farr. A Raymond Robertson goal gave the home side the points which lift Boleskine into second place in the league.
Ardnamurchan won their first points of the season with a 6-2 victory over Lewis Camanachd. Sean Laskey, James Strachan, Craig Griggs, a Ewan Mowat double and Reece MacKay were on target for the home side who were at full strength. Full back Daniel Gallagher returned for Lewis but forward Donald Lamont was missing. Jamie Fraser and former Skye Camanachd player Stuart Campbell, on his return for Lewis, were on target for Camanachd Leòdhais.
Unplayable fields ruled out the matches between Inverness and Beauly at the Bught Park, and Strathglass and Lochbroom at Cannich.