This week, The Reporter’s sports roundup features women’s rugby, a disappointing weekend for both Hibs and Hearts, and another defeat for the Edinburgh Rugby team.
There was better news however for the Edinburgh Capitals who won in Cardiff then beat Hull at Murrayfield to gain a valuable four points. Livingston born speed skater Elise Christie won a gold medal in Sweden, whilst Edinburgh Monarchs’ Max Fricke won an award in Australia, and Murrayfield’s Kerry Barr had a credible performance at the Glynnhill Ladies International Curling Tournament at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow.
Women’s Rugby
The weekend began with Scotland Women rugby team playing The Army WRFC on the artificial pitch at Saughton Park. The game was due to have been played on one of the back pitches at Murrayfield, but the snowy conditions meant a change of venue. It was agreed that the game should be played in three 30 minute periods, rather than the normal two forty minute halves.
Scotland were missing several players who were stuck in various parts of the UK, but were easily the better team, and tries by Lindsay Wheeler and Lauren Harris ensured a 10-5 victory. Our John Preece reported on the match in his article here.
Speed Skating
Congratulations are due to Livingston born GB short track speed skater Elise Christie who won gold in the 1500m in the European Championship in Sweden on Friday night. The 22 year old completed the event in 2.26.741.
Football
The weather conditions on Saturday meant the postponement of all Central Taxis East of Scotland League fixtures, but SPL football returned after the winter break, although it was a disappointing weekend for both Hibs and Hearts.
At Easter Road, 10,386 fans turned up, expecting Hibs to see off bottom club Dundee, but it was the visitors who took an early lead when Baird beat Ben Williams at the near post after some poor marking in the Hibs defence. A Leigh Griffiths free-kick in the 47th minute levelled the score, but whilst Hibs dominated possession, Dundee had the better chances and Pat Fenlon’s men had Williams to thank for securing the point.
Meanwhile, the club announced that loan stars Griffiths and Ryan McGivern will remain at Easter Road until the end of the season, whilst Danny Galbraith and Pa Kujabi have been told that they are free to find other clubs.
A young Hearts team, missing suspended skipper Marius Zaliukas and Ryan Stevenson travelled to play champions Celtic at Parkhead, and found themselves two goals down inside the first 12 minutes after strikes from Hooper and Samaras. Jason Holt pulled one back on 68 minutes, but late goals from Hooper and Nouioui saw the game finish 4-1 to the Hoops.
Off the park there was better news, with the ban on the registration of players being lifted, although Hearts can now only sign players on a ‘one in one out’ basis, and any new signings must be 21 or under and be on a lower wage than the player they replace. On Friday, former Rangers youngster Danny Wilson joined the club on load from Liverpool until the end of the season.
Next weekend, Hibs travel to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen, whilst Hearts make the short journey across the capital to Easter Road to face on-form Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the semi-final of the League Cup.
Rugby
Edinburgh Rugby ended a dismal Heineken Cup campaign at Vicarage Road, Watford, on Sunday, losing 40-7 to Saracens, making a total of six successive defeats in the tournament. Greig Tonks scored Edinburgh’s try in the first half.
Speedway
Edinburgh Monarchs’ youngster Max Fricke managed a sensational victory at Kurri-Kurri when he came from last to first in the ‘A’ final to win the Australian Under 21 Championship. At 16 years and 9 months, Max is one of the youngest ever winners of the award. He told the Monarchs’ website: “It’s perfect, I never would have thought it, I’m really happy. I didn’t even make the gate. I was last off the start, coming in to turns three and four of the second lap; I was in about third and when I came out of the corner I was in front. I don’t know where they went; I thought they must have crashed.”
Ice Hockey
On Saturday, Edinburgh Capitals secured a famous 5-4 victory over Cardiff Devils, (after overtime), their first victory in the Welsh Capitals for almost three years. Goals by Rene Jarolin, Richard Hartman, Marcus Zambergs and Michal Dobron saw the Edinburgh side 4-2 up, however The Devils fought back to square the match. With 2.14 minutes gone in overtime, the Capitals were awarded a penalty and Jarolin made no mistake to grab the extra point.
The following evening, they returned to Murrayfield and continued where they left off against the Hull Stingrays. Goals from Martin Cingel, Curtis Leinweber, Daniel McIntyre, Jock Hay Jade Portwood and Brent Patry gave the home side a sensational 6-1 lead at the end of the first period.
The Stingrays fought back, but Renee Jarolin added another two before the amazing game ended in a 9-5 victory for the Capitals.
Curling
In curling, Murrayfield’s Kerry Barr had an excellent performance on the opening day of the Glynnhill International at Glasgow’s Braehead Arena, holding German Daniela Driendl to a 5-5 draw in Section A, before hammering Czeck Linda Klimova 8-1.
She continued her good form on Saturday, beating McManus 7-4 in session Five, however Mirjam Ott proved too strong in Session Seven winning 9-1. Kerry’s involvement ended in session Nine, after losing 8-2 to Anna Sidorova.
Edinburgh’s Annie Laird held Dane Angelina Jensen 4-4 in group B before losing 10-1 to Finnish skip Ellen Vogt.
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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
