Lovat set sights on Macaulay Cup drive
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ALL eight Orion Group Premiership sides take another break from league action on Saturday with their attention turning towards the first round of the Artemis Macaulay Cup.
The top-flight teams are joined by the leading four North and four South area sides according to placings in last season’s league campaigns.
Of the eight first round encounters three are all-Premiership affairs, with the tie of the round arguably being at Balgate, where on-fire Lovat welcome Kinlochshiel.
Shiel make the journey boosted by their fine 3-2 RBS MacTavish Cup win over Kingussie last weekend.
The teams met in the second round last year when Lovat booked a place in the last four with a 3-1 win at Kirkton.
The 2010 winners Kingussie travel to Spean Bridge where they face a Lochaber side whose difficult start to their season leaves them desperately needing a boost to their morale with defeat in Portree last Saturday adding to their woes.
The other top-flight encounter takes place at The Winterton, where holders Kyles Athletic are Inveraray’s visitors.
’Aray are struggling in the Premiership and prop up the table, having only accumulated a single point from five matches.
A 5-0 Glasgow Celtic Society Cup win over Kilmory was ’Aray’s first win of the season last week and Kyles will go in to this tie as favourites.
However, in recent years, ’Aray have been a good cup team and the Royal Burgh side will hope that this can continue as they begin their quest to lift this trophy for the first time since 2009.
At An Aird, Fort William will be the underdogs for the visit of Glenurquhart. But they will hope for a repeat of their last cup meeting with the Drumnadrochit side when they registered a 2-0 win at Blairbeg Park in the third round of last year’s Camanachd Cup.
Newtonmore will find Kilmallie difficult to overcome at Canal Park, but should have the experience to take up a place in the second round.
In the three remaining ties, 2012 runners-up Oban Camanachd should account for Aberdour at Silversand Park, while Glasgow Mid Argyll should make home advantage count against Bute, and Glenorchy will be expected to win at Taynuilt.
Marine Harvest North Division One leaders Skye should have what it takes to defeat Kingussie reserves at The Dell. They will aim to protect their 100 per cent league record, while Newtonmore’s second string are odds-on favourites to come out on top over their Lovat counterparts who lie at the foot of the table, still looking for their first point.
At Cannich, Strathglass play only their third league fixture and will be hoping to make it three wins from three when near neighbours Beauly reserves provide the opposition.
In the RBS Plate competition, Inverness should book a semi-final place against Skye by winning at Lochcarron.
