Skye join growing list of clubs opposed to league changes
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
OPPOSITION continues to mount against league reorganisation plans with Skye Camanachd the latest in a line of leading clubs to voice their concern over the scheme.
The island club have asked the Camanachd Association for a change of heart and to abandon plans to reduce the Premier Division from 10 to eight teams, as well as introducing an eight-team National Division One.
Skye’s motion to the association, which has also been circulated to all member clubs, raises several issues, but essentially asks the meeting to revert to the status quo, although acknowledging that North Division One with just six teams is not ideal.
Their claim that the previous attempt to introduce a second tier of national leagues was not popular, will resonate with a number of the Inverness area clubs. However, they remain strongly in favour of the current National Premier Division.
Skye’s formal proposal, to go before the association’s annual general meeting in April, is that the plan to adopt a National Division One for the 2014 season be withdrawn, and the current league model should be retained.
Meanwhile, on the second Saturday of the new season in the Orion Premiership, Lovat face champions Newtonmore, while Glenurquhart are up against Camanachd Cup holders Kyles Athletic.
Last season Lovat took full points from their two matches against the Champions, but the Badenoch side looked to be in good early season form following a 3-2 win over Glenurquhart last Saturday.
Lovat should be along the same lines as last weekend’s goal-less draw against Lochaber as new signing Kevin Bartlett makes his home debut.
There was heartbreak, however, for Lovat’s Jamie Matheson, who limped out of the Lochaber match after just three minutes with a knee injury that could see him sidelined for several weeks.
It is tough luck on the Lovat youngster who had worked hard on his fitness over the winter in a bid to nail down a regular place in the Lovat starting line-up.
Glenurquhart face a Kyles side tomorrow that put 12 goals past them last season in one of the worst results of Drew MacNeil and Fraser MacKenzie’s first stint in charge.
The Glen pride themselves on a strong defence, but were clearly vulnerable to Kyles rapid attacking style.
Andy Corrigan, who missed the Newtonmore defeat, could return tomorrow, while flu victims David MacLennan and Ally MacKintosh should also be restored to full health.
New boys Lochaber are in Kingussie looking to build on their promising return to the Premier Division last Saturday where they more than held their own against Lovat.
Fort William and Kinlochshiel look to open their accounts when they meet at An Aird, while in the all-south encounter Oban Camanachd entertain Inveraray.
The match of the day in North Division One sees Beauly and Inverness face each other in a derby confrontation at Braeview.
Both sides fell to heavy opening day defeats, but is seems likely that the respective management teams will hold back from making widespread changes.
Inverness look to the return of Conor Golabek and also James Cameron, who struck five for the reserve side against Strathglass, to provide a lift.
Beauly’s Dougie Blain received a nasty head would against Kilmallie and could be a doubt with joint managers Iain Morrison and Steve MacLean weighing up their options as they have Ryan Tillman available again after a three-week lay-off.
Strathglass welcome high-flying Skye to Cannich, but remain plagued with injury to key players with Donald Fraser and Mark Macleod out for several weeks.
Caberfeidh face Kilmallie at home with the Corpach side in ominous form even without leading forwards John Stewart and Liam MacDonald.
