Changes to be made for next year
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NEW league structures for the 2014 season look set to have a huge impact on the new campaign, which begins in four weeks time.
The new set-up, announced at Friday night’s extraordinary general meeting of the Camanachd Association, will see the Premiership reduced to eight clubs from its present number of 10 and the re-introduction of National Division One, which will also comprise of eight teams.
National Division One will be formed from the top three clubs in the area leagues North and South joining with the two bottom-finishing clubs from the Premiership.
These changes are certain to electrify both the Premiership and the area leagues in 2013 as clubs scramble for position.
The forthcoming Premiership was expected to be one of the toughest in its history even with the current 10 team set-up, but the cut-throat nature of the competition will be ramped up even further as teams jostle for a top eight finish.
Likewise in the area leagues, gaining a top three position will be the prize and that will be particularly tough in the north with the six clubs expected to be very closely matched.
The new league set-up is also certain to be ultra competitive with just one promotion spot up for grabs, while the Premiership reverts to a single relegation place.
There will be promotion to and relegation from National Division One as well with promotion decided by a play-off between the champions of North Division One playing their South Division One counterparts.
The structure for the forthcoming North Division One campaign was also announced with the clubs playing each other three times. The association confirmed that unlike 2012, sanctions will be imposed on clubs failing to fulfil a fixture.
Beauly’s proposal to gain some flexibility for two-team clubs in the 10-named player rule gained support, although the number available for reserve team league duty was reduced from four to two.
The draw for the cup competitions was also made and in the MacTavish Cup, Inverness host Lovat, while Beauly and Strathglass clash at Braeview. Glenurquhart were handed a bye, but will face the winner of the Caberfeidh versus Kinlochshiel tie in round two.
Inverness were handed a tough assignment in the Balliemore Cup as well when they were drawn away to Skye. Strathglass take on record winners Caberfeidh at Cannich.
Beauly, beaten finalists in 2012, were handed a first round bye and will take on the winners of the Taynuilt versus Glasgow Mid Argyll tie in round two.
The draw for the preliminary and first round ties in the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup will be made shortly.
Meanwhile, in the weekend friendlies, Inverness succumbed to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Newtonmore and Beauly befell a similar fate when they played Lochaber at Braeview on Sunday.
