Frustration for both Lovat and Glenurquhart
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LOVAT and Glenurquhart suffered frustration after their matches in the Orion Premiership were postponed due to unplayable pitches at Tighnabruaich and Kirkton.
Both clubs were looking to maintain their challenge for the title and with their sights also set on Saturday’s RBS MacTavish Cup semi-finals vital momentum and match sharpness have also been lost.
Saturday’s inactivity sees Lovat, who have led the table since the second week of the new season, drop to second with Newtonmore leapfrogging them into first after a 3-0 win over Lochaber at Spean Bridge.
Lochaber have had a torrid start to the season, but this was a heartening performance, although they still remain anchored at the foot of the table.
They fell behind to a 26th minute Fraser MacKintosh strike, but held firm to thwart the champions before late goals by Evan Menzies and Calum Stewart sealed the points.
Kingussie took over third place from Glenurquhart with a hard fought 3-2 win over Inveraray at the Dell. There was a rare appearance from Ronald Ross and he announced his comeback with two goals in the opening 10 minutes.
Inveraray came back with goals from Lewis MacNicol and Peter MacIntyre before Kingussie grabbed both points courtesy of a late strike by Bob MacGregor.
In the Marine Harvest National Division, Beauly and Caberfeidh shared the points in a dour 1-1 struggle at Braeview. The home paid the penalty for slack marking when Craig Morrison found himself in acres of space and he picked his spot to give Cabers a dream start with barely five minutes on the clock.
Defences remained on top, but Beauly increased the pressure in the final 15 minutes and after David Maclean and Marc MacLachlan both went close, midfielder Conor Cormack struck in injury-time to deny the Sky Blues.
Fort William won the Lochaber derby to undermine Kilmallie’s bid for the title with a 3-1 win over their old rivals, while Oban Camanachd lead the table following their 5-1 victory over Glenorchy. Bute’s 2-1 loss against Glasgow Mid Argyll leaves them in the relegation spot.
Inverness progressed to the last four of the Balliemore Cup courtesy of a comfortable 4-0 home win over Oban Celtic.
Liam Girvan was first to strike when he opened the scoring two minutes after the break and eight minutes later Dougie Rankin struck to put the city club further ahead.
Martin Davidson and John MacLennan fired home in quick succession to send Inverness into the last four of the competition for the first time in a decade.
There was no place for Strathglass however after they crashed out, losing 1-0 at home to Skye, Jonathon MacLennan’s second half goal proving decisive.
In other ties, Ballachulish are through to the semi-finals after a 2-0 win over Taynuilt, while Aberdour edged out Aberdeen University 3-2. The draw for the next round will be made later this week.
Elsewhere, Inverness bowed out of the Sutherland Cup after a 7-1 thrashing at home to Lochbroom. Craig Girvan’s goal for the city side was nothing more than a consolation in a match where the hosts Paul Bowman and ‘Broom’s Sandy Urquhart were both red carded.
Lovat booked their place in the quarter-finals with a fine 5-2 win over Skye, Thomas Fraser put in a storming performance with a hat-trick in the opening 30 minutes.
The other two ties were also high scoring, Kingussie dispatching of Kilmallie 8-0, while Kyles Athletic cut loose against Strathspey, running out emphatic 14-0 winners.
