Lovat game postponed again
LOVAT spent another frustrating Saturday on the sidelines after their Scottish Hydro Premier Division match at Kilmallie was postponed yet again.
It is the second time the match has failed to go ahead and the third time this season that the fixture at Canal Parks has been affected as a result of the condition of Kilmallie’s pitch.
The first league encounter between the clubs was scheduled for 28th May, but Canal Parks was also deemed unplayable on that occasion, forcing the Camanachd Association into switching the match to Balgate. Ominously, Lovat lost that game 2-1, but with the Balgate side now desperately seeking the points to move away from the foot of the table, they will be forgiven for thinking that the return match has a curse hanging over it.
The Association has now rescheduled the match to take place on Saturday 15th October.
Meanwhile, Newtonmore and Kyles Athletic will carry their battle for supremacy in the Premier Division into Saturday’s head-to-head in Tighnabruaich after they each took maximum points from their matches against Inveraray and Oban Camanachd respectively.
Newtonmore were not at their best as they struggled to subdue an Inveraray side battling for their Premier Division survival, but they were rarely in any serious trouble, picking up a 3-0 triumph.
Glen MacKintosh hit a fine hat-trick for the recently crowned Camanachd Cup winners, although he could have gone one better had he not fluffed a second half penalty.
’More were some way short of their strongest side with Camanachd Cup hat-trick hero Danny MacRae missing, as well as midfielder Cameron Binnie. Inveraray, however, looked toothless up front without striker Russell MacKinlay and with just two games remaining, they are in real danger of sinking into area league shinty next season.
The half-time score at Mossfield where Oban Camanachd led Kyles thanks to a 23rd minute Iain MacMillan goal had encouraged Newtonmore that their rivals for the title were heading for defeat.
Kyles, however, stormed back in the second half and goals from David Zavaroni, Roddy MacDonald and Fraser MacDonald kept their unbeaten league record intact and leaves them on course for their first-ever Premier Division title.
Both teams have three matches remaining, but Kyles lead Newtonmore by two points and also have a superior goal difference.
Kingussie showed no signs of a hangover from last Saturday’s Camanachd Cup defeat as they powered to a 7-0 win over bottom of the league side Glenorchy. Ronald Ross hit four, while Martin Dallas, Hamish Anderson and Rory MacGregor were also on target.
Lochaber made sure of second place in North Division One after a 7-2 win over Lochcarron brought the curtain down on the league programme with Kinlochshiel champions and Strathglass finishing bottom.