Crucial games looming in top flight
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THE results in all four matches having a bearing on the outcome of both the championship and relegation, so tomorrow’s action in the Scottish Hydro Premier Division promises to be no place for the faint hearted.
At the top, the contenders for the title — Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore — go head to head at Tighnabruaich, while the other three matches feature the three clubs mired in the struggle to avoid relegation.
For Lovat, who play Kingussie at Balgate, the main problem facing coaches James Gallagher and John MacRitchie has been trying to keep their squad of players sharp and focused ahead of the confrontation with the beaten Camanachd Cup finalists.
Bridging the seven-week gap between tomorrow’s match and Lovat’s last outing — a 1-0 win over Oban Camanachd — has not been easy, a fact acknowledged by Gallagher.
"It’s far from ideal, but the lads know what’s at stake," he said. "It is our last home game and we intend to have a real go. Attendances at training have been very encouraging and the spirit in the camp is good."
Lovat will be along the same lines as the squad picked to go to Kilmallie last Saturday, although Euan Ferguson could return.
Kingussie, meanwhile, are looking to finish the season on a high and their 7-0 win at Glenorchy last Saturday was a typical response to the disappointment of their extra-time defeat in the Camanachd Cup final.
Glenurquhart return to the fray after an eight-week lay-off. They face relegation-threatened Oban Camanachd at Mossfield in what is the Glen’s penultimate game of the season.
The Glen can expect a tough match from the home side, who took Kyles all the way last weekend, before conceding two late goals in a 3-1 defeat.
Inveraray will be favourites to claim both points at Dalmally where relegated Glenorchy lie in wait.
While the relegation issue will not be decided tomorrow, a win for Kyles against Newtonmore would almost guarantee them the title.
Elsewhere and almost exactly 12 months after winning the North Division Two title, Glenurquhart are locked in a struggle to avoid being relegated.
They face Kilmallie, also facing the threat of demotion, at Canal Parks and need a draw to consign the Lochaber side to North Division Three next season.
Meanwhile, the annual North versus South under-14 and under-17 matches go ahead at Taynuilt on Sunday.
The under-14 fixture for the Fraser MacPhee Memorial Cup takes place at 12.30pm, followed by the under-17 tie at 2.30pm.
Historically, the North has dominated these encounters and once again they have selected strong squads.
Local clubs are well represented, particularly at under-17 level, where five players have made it through the selection process.
Beauly’s Scott MacLeod and Jack MacDonald, veterans of last season’s squad, have been called up again, while Fraser Heath (Glenurquhart), Michael MacKenzie (Lovat) and Josh Fraser (Strathglass) are also in the squad.
At under-14 level, Jack Hosie, from Glenurquhart, and Lovat’s Danny Kelly are in the 15-strong pool. Strathglass’s Darren Reid, who is the south area development officer, is in charge of the South under-14 side.
