Shinty: Newtonmore maintain perfect start while Kingussie remain in hot pursuit

With the top two sides both winning away from home against their third and fourth-placed rivals, this year’s Mowi Premiership title race looks increasingly likely to be a two-horse race between Badenoch giants Newtonmore and Kingussie.

Newtonmore maintained their 100% record with a 2-1 win at Fort William.

Brodie MacBean turned home Matthew Sloss’s ball across goal for the opener, and Drew MacDonald played in MacBean for his and More’s second.

Victor Smith countered from the penalty spot just after the hour.

More manager Peter Ross said: “I think the final scoreline flattered Fort William to be honest.

“We should have scored three or four before the break and Brodie MacBean hit the post as did Iain Robinson with a penalty.

“We made substitutions in each half which probably interrupted our rhythm but some of the boys needed game time.

“I thought Tristan Ross dominated the centre line and Brodie MacBean is on fire at the moment.”

Kingussie remain six points behind the leaders but with two games in hand following a stunning 7-0 triumph at Oban Camanachd.

Doubles from Thomas Borthwick and Roddy Young and goals from Savio Genini, Dylan Borthwick and Ruaridh Anderson gave boss Ronald Ross plenty to cheer about.

He said: “You would do well to find a better 45 minutes of shinty considering the quality of the opposition.”

Oban assistant manager Iain MacMillan said: “We’re a bit shell-shocked to be honest. That was just unrecognisable from anything we’ve seen from an Oban Camanachd side for a good 20-odd years.”

Substitute Jay MacRae scored a minute into stoppage time as Kinlochshiel beat Skye 2-1 in their derby.

Shiel led when Archie MacRae turned home a ball to the back post before Jamie Gillies levelled with a good strike. Jay MacRae’s decisive strike came following a late set-piece.

Shiel manager Willie MacRae said: “I thought we dominated the early part of the game, and I was thinking of changing things in attack before Archie popped up to score.

“I always felt we needed the second goal which proved to be the case. As the match moved into the closing stages, I put John MacRae back on and he won the free-hit ahead of the winner.”

WD MacRae shone at half back for Shiel whilst Skye teenager Iain Graham did well.

Points on the board for Col Glen

It was another historic day at The Clachan of Glendaruel where Col Glen claimed their first-ever Premiership points and their maiden win, defeating Lochaber 4-2.

Lochaber led through Kevin Ferguson, but Andrew Tyre equalised before half-time.

Andrew MacVicar and Sam Bulloch’s late brace gave Col Glen comfort and although Findlay MacDonald countered a couple of minutes from time, it wasn’t enough.

Not for the first time, full back Cally Mcnaughton was excellent for Col Glen and the win takes Col Glen out of the relegation zone at Skye’s expense.

Cameron Grant scored three minutes from time as Caberfeidh won 2-1 at Kyles Athletic.

After a goalless first half, Farquhar MacRae fired high into the net after Ali Taylor’s initial shot had been saved by Iain MacFarlane.

However, Kyles countered when Ethan Kerr finished well but the impressive Cameron Grant finished low into the goal at the back post to give Cabers both points.

Kilmallie cause an upset

In the Ferguson Transport & Shipping Balliemore Cup quarter-finals, Kilmallie upset the odds with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win against Glenurquhart following a 4-4 draw.

Calum MacDougall, two-goal Shane O’Rua and Martin Stewart’s penalty counted for Kilmallie with the visitors responding through Alfie MacLeod and Fraser Heath’s hat-trick. Alexander MacNiven starred in the home goal.

Beauly beat Inverness 3-0 after extra-time to also reach the semis. All the goals came within the first half of extra-time with Hector MacLennan, Euan Maccormick and Torrin Cairns on target.

Lovat received a bye when Oban Celtic scratched.

Logan Adam, Calum Morrison, Ross Brown and Brian Slattery sent Glasgow Mid Argyll third in the Mowi National Division, beating Bute 4-0.

[Source: Press and Journal]