Shinty: Newtonmore take advantage of weather-reduced card to move top of the table

The wet weather cause havoc to the shinty programme with only two national league games beating the elements to go ahead.

Newtonmore took advantage of their Mowi Premiership title rivals’ inactivity when they beat newly-promoted Lochaber 1-0 at The Eilan.

The goal that won the game came a minute before the hour mark.

More were awarded a free-hit just next to the penalty spot for a ‘kick’. Declan Brannan played a short, straight ball forward and captain Iain Robinson’s strike on the turn from a central position just outside the box went into the net off keeper Callum Macdonald’s left foot.

The win leaves Newtonmore as early league leaders and manager Peter Ross said: “At this stage in the season, it’s two points and that’s all.

“Neither keeper made a save of note in the first half, and I must say that Max Campbell was outstanding in the Lochaber defence.

“We lost Tristan Ross after just 10 minutes after a bang on the hand meant he lost a fingernail.

“Conor Jones dropped back to full centre to cover where he was very good against Martin Johnstone, another good player, so although Tristan wanted back on, we didn’t risk him.

“We varied things in the second half and kept the ball away from the areas Max Campbell occupied to good effect. Iain Robinson got the goal that made the difference as he so often does but he also hit the inside of the post twice as well as the crossbar.

“Our defence was solid again, particularly Daniel Sloss who defended really well but also pushed into midfield on several occasions to help get us up the park.

“This result leaves us two points better off than at the same stage last year when Fort William, also newly promoted, beat us here.

“Today’s game was physical but not over physical and Lochaber are tough opponents who will beat teams this season, especially on their own pitch at Spean Bridge.”

The wet weather wiped out the top-flight fixtures between Kyles Athletic and Col Glen, Skye Camanachd and Fort William, Caberfeidh and Oban Camanachd and Kinlochshiel and Kingussie.

In the only game to survive the weather in the Mowi National Division, Oban Celtic lost ten goals for the second successive Saturday, this time going down 10-0 to Glenurquhart at Mossfield.

Daniel Maclean scored five times for the visitors with Alfie MacLeod netting twice and Andrew Corrigan, John Barr, and Charlie MacLeod notching the others.

Glenurquhart boss Iain MacLeod reflected on the victory before making the journey back north.

He said: “Celtic have good players in key positions, and it took us a while to break them down.

“Fair play to Iain Hay and his ground staff as despite the wet weather, the Mossfield pitch was in good condition which allowed our forwards, particularly Alfie MacLeod and Daniel Maclean, to link up well. Their movement was good, and they carved up the Celtic defence on several occasions, scoring five goals between them in the first half alone.

“We weren’t quite sure what to expect when we made the journey down the road this morning as although Oban Celtic lost to Lovat last week, they had some players back, but we played some lovely shinty at times and kept our discipline when necessary.

“Our movement was good as we turned their defenders around to face their own goal, and I was happy with our fitness and attitude too.

“We have young boys pushing the older players and that’s healthy at any club. We brought on 16-year-old Daniel Van Loon on at wing centre and he did himself a lot of good, just as he did against Beauly last week.”

The encounters between Beauly and Glasgow Mid Argyll, Inveraray and Bute and Kilmallie’s clash with Lovat all fell following pitch inspections.

[Source: Press and Journal]