Cup finalists renew rivalry in league clash
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REIGNING champions Newtonmore take on Kyles Athletic in the game of the weekend in the Orion Premiership.
It’s a re-enactment of last season’s Camanachd Cup final. Newtonmore triumphed on that occasion and the hosts will be hoping for a result reversal at Tighnabruaich tomorrow. Kyles, with a competitive match under their belt and home advantage, will start as narrow favourites and Newtonmore could pay the penalty for a low-key pre-season build-up.
Week two will see many of the pitches waterlogged last Saturday now available for play.
However, Glenurquhart’s match in the Orion Premiership against Lochaber at Spean Bridge looks likely to be postponed after it was confirmed in midweek that the funeral of former player Bryan Whyte, killed in a road traffic accident the previous Friday, will take place at noon on Saturday.
Lovat face Kingussie at The Dell where the Kiltarlity side generally relish playing on a surface considered to be the finest in the sport. The home side hope to be at full strength with Martin Mainland, who missed the victory over Kyles, expected to be in the squad.
Kinlochshiel and Inveraray clash at Kirkton with ’Shiel looking to bounce back quickly after a heavy loss to Glenurquhart in their opening day fixture.
The match of the day in the Marine Harvest National Division sees last year’s North Division One champions and runners-up clash when Kilmallie meet Beauly at Canal Parks.
With doubts surrounding the condition of the Kilmallie pitch, this fixture could be reversed and be played at Beauly.
Beauly got their season off to a solid start against Glasgow Mid Argyll last Saturday. Manager Roger Cormack will hope to add Marc MacLachlan, who missed out against Mid Argyll, to his squad.
It was all square between the sides last season as the clubs shared two wins apiece in the four matches and the outcome is expected to be equally close tomorrow.
Caberfeidh head for Argyll-shire to take on Glenorchy, generally viewed as the dark horses in the new league.
Cabers need a victory after a disappointing loss against Oban Camanachd last Saturday, as a second defeat in two games could seriously undermine their title challenge.
Oban look to build on that win at Strathpeffer as they face Bute at at Mossfield while Fort William open their account away to Mid Argyll.
In North Division One, early pacesetters Skye and Strathglass meet at Portree with the islanders hoping that home advantage will nudge the result in their favour. Strath will be without top defender George Phimister who is serving a three-match suspension carried over from last season.
In two derby matches , Glenurquhart host Beauly while Newtonmore and Kingussie clash at The Eilan.
