Home comfort as Lovat eye MacTavish Cup final
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LOVAT gain home advantage against Kinlochshiel this Saturday in the semis of the RBS MacTavish Cup after last weekend’s washout at Kirkton.
The tie at ’Shiel’s home ground was abandoned, meaning the tie reverts to their opponents’ patch this time, which tips the balance in favour of Lovat.
This encounter at Kiltarlity is Saturday’s top game, with Lovat targeting an eighth MacTavish Cup triumph after waiting 60 years to pick up the trophy for a seventh time last June, whilst ’Shiel have yet to taste MacTavish glory.
Glenurquhart will definitely have a spring in their step when they face Lochaber on Orion Group Premiership business at Blairbeg Park.
Lochaber’s chances of avoiding relegation are rapidly decreasing and a sixth league defeat in seven matches would leave the Spean Bridge men needing a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes to prevent Marine Harvest National Division shinty next season.
The teams have yet to meet this season, but Glen won the corresponding fixture 3-1 last season after their initial clash at Spean Bridge ended in a 0-0 draw.
The sides also faced each other in the second round of last year’s Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup when Glen won a replay 3-1 after drawing 3-3 at Spean Bridge.
Kyles Athletic haven’t found their feet yet in the Premiership and have Newtonmore as visitors on Saturday.
Kyles usually make life difficult for ’More at Tighnabruaich, with their last league encounter there resulting in a 5-4 victory, ’More’s sole defeat in their title winning campaign coming in their penultimate fixture. Newtonmore got their revenge three weeks later by winning 4-1 at The Eilan.
At The Winterton, Inveraray and Kingussie face meet only two weeks after Kings scored a 3-2 win at The Dell.
On their own pitch, Inveraray will hope that they can take at least a point to help them move them away from the drop zone, but will find themselves up against a Kingussie side determined to stay in contention with joint leaders Newtonmore and Lovat.
With leaders Oban Camanachd idle on Saturday, Beauly journey to Yoker with the incentive of going top of Marine Harvest National Division One if they beat Glasgow Mid Argyll for a second time this season after winning 3-1 against the Glasgow side on opening day at Braeview Park.
Fort William should make it three wins from three matches by taking care of Glenorchy at Dalmally, whilst Kilmallie are strongly fancied to take care of basement side Bute at Canal Park.
Seven days after defeating Inverness 3-1 in the RBS MacTavish Plate competition, Marine Harvest North Division One leaders Skye lock horns again with Allan MacLeod’s team. It will be a shock if the city side come out on top against the islanders who are chasing their fifth consecutive league win.
Second-placed Strathglass could find it tough against Kingussie reserves at The Dell where Strath need to win to maintain their title challenge.
Only one point separates the second strings of Newtonmore and Glenurquhart and ’More look favourites to increase that margin to three points by winning at Blairbeg Park to stay in contention at the top of the table.
The remaining fixture in this division has an attractive look to it, with Braeview Park being the venue for what is sure to be a rousing derby between the reserve teams of Beauly and Lovat.
