Can cup holders break Lovat's winning habit?
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THE Artemis MacAulay Cup gets started this Saturday with eight first round ties in the zoned draw that guarantees a North v South final in Oban on August 17.
The game of the round takes place at Balgate where Allan MacRae's Lovat take on holders and local rivals Glenurquhart.
Lovat have built up a fair momentum since the season began, winning their last four Orion Group Premierhship matches after drawing their opening four league fixtures.
This unbeaten run is all the more impressive when you add MacTavish Cup victories over Inverness and Lochaber.
A total of 32 goals have been netted in these 10 matches, highlighting their firepower whilst with a miserly six goals conceded in eight league games, the Kiltarlity outfit have the best defensive record in the top-flight.
Glen are starting to string results together after an indifferent start to their campaign. Having taken seven points from their last five matches, they look to be in good shape for their first meeting this season with their neighbours from over the hill.
The outcome of this clash looks too close to call, however Glen will not be wanting to relinquish their grip on this trophy, their first national senior triumph, and if anyone can bring an end to Lovat's unbeaten sequence, Glen may just be the team to do it.
Newtonmore and Lochaber, who met in last year's MacTavish Cup final, meet for the second time this season at The Eilean with the odds stacked heavily in favour of Paul John MacKintosh's charges. Their last encounter back in mid-March went in More's favour by a 5-1 margin and it will be a major shock if Lochaber register their first win of the season at the expense of the Premiership champions.
An Aird hosts the Lochaber derby encounter between Fort William and North Division One joint leaders Kilmallie, the only North area team outwith the Premiership involved in this year's tournament.
Last year, Kilmallie shocked their deadly rivals by sending them crashing out of the Camanachd Cup at the second round stage after a 3-1 victory at Canal Park and Duncan Kelly will be contemplating his team engineering another early cup exit for a Fort side who have only one win to their name from seven top league matches this season.
Kingussie take on Kinlochshiel at The Dell and this could be a very close affair, with Shiel hoping to avenge a 4-2 league defeat Kings inflicted on them at Kirkton on the opening day of the campaign.
In the South area half of the draw, Kyles Athletic will be expected to win over Bute at The Meadows, as will Inveraray, who have home advantage over Glasgow Mid Argyll. Oban Camanachd will have to work hard to account for Glenorchy at Dalmally, whilst the remaining tie is an all-South Division One affair between Oban Celtic and Taynuilt at Mossfield Park.
Beauly and Strathglass will have another go at getting their Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup first round tie settled at Braeview Park after last week's postponement. Beauly will start as favourites, however Strath will be determined to spring a shock after two close defeats at the hands of their neighbours this season.
In North Division One, the sole fixture is the third and final league meeting between Inverness and Skye. The city side put on a good show in Portree three weeks ago when Aonghas MacDonald's goal just before the interval proved crucial, giving the islanders a 1-0 win.
Inverness provided stern opposition for Glenorchy last week and city boss Allan MacLeod will hope his men can show similar character on Saturday and make it third time lucky after losing twice to their island visitors.
* Saturday's fixtures, all throw-ups 2.30pm unless stated:
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup first round – Beauly v Strathglass.
Artemis Macaulay Cup – Bute v Kyles Athletic (3pm), Inveraray v Glasgow Mid Argyll (3pm), Glenorchy v Oban Camanachd, Oban Celtic v Taynuilt, Fort William v Kilmallie, Kingussie v Kinlochshiel, Lovat v Glenurquhart, Newtonmore v Lochaber.
Marine Harvest North Division One – Inverness v Skye.
Marine Harvest North Division Two – Kinlochshiel v Aberdeen University, Glengarry v Beauly, Glenurquhart v Lovat (noon), Skye v Fort William.
Marine Harvest North Division Three – Boleskine v Lochbroom, Kilmallie v Inverness, Lewis v Caberfeidh, Lochcarron v Strathspey.
