Lovat relying on Inveraray help
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INVERARAY and Kyles Athletic hold the key as the Orion Premiership reaches a dramatic finale tomorrow, with title and relegation issues to be resolved.
Lovat’s last chance of pipping Newtonmore to the title lies with Inveraray, who face the Badenoch side at the Winterton, where the Royal Burgh side need to take full points to halt ’More’s charge to their fifth successive Premiership title.
An Inveraray win would leave Lovat needing to beat Kingussie at the end of September to deny the reigning champions.
Second from bottom Kinlochshiel will also be looking for a favour from Kyles Athletic when they face relegation-threatened Lochaber at Tighnabruaich.
The Spean Bridge side need to take both points to avoid dropping into the Marine Harvest National Division next season.
Even a win might not be enough for Lochaber, with Kinlochshiel able to scramble to safety by taking a point in their final match, also against Kyles Athletic, but crucially at their home pitch at Kirkton.
The odds favour a Newtonmore win at Inveraray, where the home side have little to play for other than club pride.
But Lochaber, who have won only one league game all season, need something of a miracle to avoid relegation. Even a win against Kyles might not be enough, with Kinlochshiel holding a substantial goal difference advantage.
In the National Division, second-placed Fort William face Bute at An Aird in their penultimate match of the season and will be favourites to take both points against the relegated Rothesay side.
That would see the Fort leading the table by a point but facing Oban Camanachd in a title showdown at the end of September. A draw for the Fort in that match would see them promoted.
While Lovat’s senior players sit out an anxious Saturday afternoon awaiting the result from Inveraray, it is still going to a busy weekend for the club.
On Saturday the club’s reserve side face old foes Beauly in the final of the Strathdearn Cup Plate competition, and on Sunday the club’s ladies’ team is in Strachur to face Strathglass in the final of the Challenge Cup.
Saturday’s match promises to be a highly entertaining encounter with the teams well matched and featuring a good mix of youth and experience.
Lovat manager Graeme MacMillan will pit his wits against an old adversary in the shape of Stephen MacLean, currently the player manager of the Braeview outfit.
MacMillan’s plans were knocked off course when Martin Bell, his reliable defender, was red-carded in the recent Premiership match against Newtonmore when he came on as substitute. Bell misses out tomorrow and MacMillan could be short of cover in that area.
The match goes ahead at Caberfeidh’s Castleod pitch, with a 2.30pm throw-up time.
Meanwhile, the cream of the ladies’ game will be action at Strachur in a gala day, with two major finals going ahead.
The main event sees Glasgow Mid Argyll face Skye with the Valerie Fraser Cup up for grabs. But earlier in the day local area interest will focus on the challenge cup final between Lovat and Strathglass.
