Lovat in stalemate once again
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LOVAT are fast becoming shinty’s draw specialists after Saturday’s 1-1 stalemate against Kinlochshiel made it four a row for Allan MacRae’s side.
There will be frustration in the Balgate changing rooms following a match that if they had taken both points, would have seen them move to a share of second place in the league.
A Lewis Tawse strike gave Lovat the lead in the 24th minute, but they spurned further opportunities following that and five minutes after the break Keith MacRae punished them with a leveller for the visitors.
The Wester Ross side went on to display the resilience that has seen them bounce back from a opening day defeat to take four points from their last three matches.
Lovat’s midfielder Owen Ferguson received a nasty facial injury which could keep him out of Saturday’s first round clash in the MacTavish Cup at Inverness.
Glenurquhart remain at the bottom of the table, but finally got a point on the board following a 0-0 draw against Lochaber at Spean Bridge.
Both sides are crying out for a goalscorer with the Glen notching just three from their opening four matches, while Lochaber have found the target just once.
Only three of the scheduled five matches in the Orion Premiership went ahead as the March storms took their toll on the fixtures list.
A total of nine games across the six divisions succumbed to the weather with travel difficulties and unplayable pitches the main culprits.
The top four were in direct opposition to each other with leaders Kyles Athletics against second place Newtonmore and Kingussie hosting third placed Inveraray.
Newtonmore’s trip to Tighnabruaich was considered too hazardous leading to a Saturday morning cancellation, while Inveraray’s trip to Kingussie befell a similar fate.
Fort William have had a faltering start to the new season, picking up just one point from their opening three matches, but on Saturday it must have felt like old times for the An Aird faithful as they cheered their side to a 2-1 win over Oban Camanachd.
They were further buoyed by return to the ranks of their outstanding defender Duncan Rodger and quicksilver forward Bryan Simpson, who have ended their exiles from the team.
Rodger was thrown in as the main striker and caused plenty of problems for the Oban defence without actually getting his name on the scoresheet. Simpson was deployed in midfield to good effect as the Fort pulled out a strong second half performance.
Oban dominated the first 45 minutes, but a ninth minute goal from Iain MacMillan was all they had to show for their efforts. Three minutes after the restart, however, the Fort were level with Gary Innes on target.
Despite almost incessant pressure, the Oban defence stood firm, but in the 90th minute their goalkeeper Robert Dunning was penalised after falling on the ball in the area. Innes stepped up to strike home a confident conversion and seal the victory over Oban.
In Marine Harvest North Division One, Kilmallie stay top in the north following a 6-0 win over Inverness with Allan MacLeod’s side abruptly brought down to earth after their encouraging victory over Strathglass the previous weekend.
Doubles from Grant MacKenzie and Michael Rodger did the damage with Mark MacPherson and Seb MacMillan also on target.
Strathglass remain anchored to the foot of the table after they lost 2-1 at Beauly.
The Strath gave a good account of themselves on Saturday, but were edged out by a Beauly side who showed the determination to battle back from a goal down to deny Calum Duff’s side their first win of the season.
Beauly were on top in the opening spell only to be left stunned in the 32nd minute when a Robbie Stokes drive was deflected by a defender, leaving Beauly goalkeeper MacKay Murray completely stranded.
A second half double from Marc MacLachlan, however, salvaged the victory for the home side with the win taking them clear in second place, two points behind Kilmallie.
Skye consolidated third place following a 3-1 triumph at the expense of Caberfeidh with Neil MacVicar grabbing a hat-trick. Ally MacLennan hit a late counter for the visitors.
In North Division Two, the first three places are occupied by Aird district teams with Lovat on top on goal difference from Beauly and Glenurquhart.
Lovat put Kinlochshiel to the sword with a 6-3 win at Kirkton and Beauly produced a shock to beat Sutherland Cup holders Kingussie 3-1 at Braeview.
That match, however, ended on sour note with referee Ally Hunter issuing three red cards with William Ferguson and Ryan MacKay, both of Beauly, and Kingussie’s Savio Genini, being sent-off.
Glenurquhart dropped a point at home to Skye where they were made to settle for a 0-0 draw by a resolute performance from the islanders.
