The Edinburgh Reporter’s Weekly Sports Round-up

The Edinburgh Reporter’s weekly sports roundup features the Scotland Rugby team’s defeat in the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham and also the women’s heavy loss to England at Esher. Hearts lost a late goal to deny them victory over Ross County in Dingwall, while Hibs marched through to the quarter final of the William Hill Scottish Cup with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen.

There was better news for the Capital teams in the Kings Cup with Spartans, Leith Athletic, Craigroyston and Heriot Watt all progressing to the next round.

Congratulations go to Edinburgh Basketball teams, winning three trophies, and good luck wishes go to Granton snooker player Craig MacGillivray who will be representing Scotland in Russia, and congratulations go to Edinburgh’s badminton star Jilly Copper who won the women’s doubles along with Kirsty Gilmour at the Yonex Scottish National Championships in Perth.

The Edinburgh Monarch’s fixture dates have been released, and the Edinburgh Reporter joins fans in paying sympathy to the friends and family of former star Arty Fisher who passed away last week aged 83.

We also follow the fortunes of the Edinburgh Capitals who started the weekend with a defeat to Fife Flyers but redeemed themselves with a victory over Braehead Clan last night.

International Rugby

Scotland’s dismal record at Twickenham continued on Saturday, although the final score-line of 38-18 flattered England in the first game of the Six Nations campaign.

Sean Maitland’s 10th-minute try gave the Scots a brief lead, however  try on debut from Billy Twelvetrees and tries from Chris Ashton, Geoff Parling and Danny Care, in addition to 18 points from the boot of man of the match Owen Farrell,  meant that the Calcutta Cup remained south of the border.

A late rally after a superb break finished by Stuart Hogg narrowed the margin to 13 points and with six minutes remaining Scotland had a line-out within five meters of the England line.Had they taken advantage of this, it could have been a different result, but in truth England deserved the victory.

Scotland Women got their Six Nations defence off to a disappointing start in Esher, losing 76-0 to high flying England who notched up 12 tries.

Sarah Hunter, Ceri Large, Sally Tuson and Abigail Chamberlain all scored two apiece, for England while Hannah Gallagher, Amber Reed, Kay Wilson and Rochelle Clark also went over the try line.

The victory means England have now won 37 of the last 38 Six Nations games.

Club Rugby

Heriots travelled to Tayside but lost 30-25 to Dundee High School Former Players in a free-flowing game at Riverside Park. Tries by Fraser Brown, CJ Osazuma and Russell ensured a losing bonus point for the Edinburgh team.

Football

The transfer window finally slammed shut on Friday, with Hearts bringing in Scotland international Danny Wilson and Michael Ngoo from Premiership side Liverpool, replacing Ryan McGowan and Peter Enckleman, whilst Hibs retained loan trio Leigh Griffiths, Ryan McGivern and Jorge Claros as well as signing Scott Robertson on a two and a half year deal from Blackpool and Matt Done on loan from Barnsley.

Hearts travelled to Dingwall to play Ross County in a re-arranged game following the contravertial postponement of the fixture last month. County took the lead through Rocco Quinn before new cult hero Ngoo equalised before half time. Jamie Walker gave John McGlynn’s men the lead with a six yard header however they were denied the three points by a late Iain Vigurs goal in injury time.

A stunning 30 yard strike from Gary Deegan gave Hibs a 1-0 win over Aberdeen in the William Hill Scottish Cup at Easter Road on Sunday, although Pat Fenlon’s men have keeper Ben Williams to thank after the former Manchester United star saved a late penalty to secure a quarter final tie against Kilmarnock at rugby Park.

In the Kings Cup, two goals apiece from John Ferguson, Keith McLeod and Donal Henretty, his hundredth for the club, plus strikes from John Grant, Sean Wringe gave Spartans a comfortable 8-0 win over Hawick at Ainslie Park. Malt and Hops man of the match went to Kevin Motion for a fine performance controlling midfield.

Elsewhere Craigroyston beat Vale of Leven 2-1 away from home, whilst Tynecastle travelled to Condstream and won 5-2.

Leith Athletic beat Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 3-0 whilst Heriot Watt ran out comfortable winners against Peebles, beating the Border outfit 7-1 at Riccarton.

Basketball

Congratulations go to the City of Edinburgh Kings who beat the University of Glasgow 81-62 in the Senior Men’s Scottish Cup final. The Kings had to come from 21-17 behind at the end of the first quarter, but fought back strongly in the second to lead 42-30 at half time. Another strong quarter saw them going into the final stage 61-41 ahead and eventually ran out comfortable winners.

More congratulations go to City of Edinburgh Kool Kats who beat Tayside Muskateers 77-62 in the Senior Woman Scottish Cup Final, and  well done to Boroughmuir Blaze who won the Junior Men’s Scottish Cup, beating Tayside Muskateers 63-51. MVP was Blaze’s Malcolm Winning.

Commiserations however go to the City of Edinburgh Kool Kats who went down 46-72 to a strong St Mirren reid Kerr College in the final of the Under 18 Scottish Cup Final. The Saints dominated the match and led 33-19 at the half time break.

Ice Hockey

The Capitals weekend got off to a dismal start losing 7-1 to arch rivals Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy on Saturday night, before beating Braehead Clan 5-2 on Sunday.

Speedway

The Premier League fixtures have been released with  Monarchs starting with a two-leg challenge against Berwick Bandits, at home on Friday 29 March then at Berwick the following night in the Cock of the North trophy. On Sunday, the Monarchs take on rivals Glasgow Tigers in the Spring Trophy.

After meeting their two local rivals, the Monarchs then compete in a shortened League Cup qualifying section, with the British Championship semi-final on the 19th April.

There’s also an early start to the KO Cup as Monatchs  initially race Leicester away from home on Saturday 27^th April.

Champions Scunthorpe are Monarchs  first Premier League opposition in Friday 3^rd May at Armadale.

The David Harrison Ford Scottish Open is on 2nd August and captain Derek Sneddon has his well deserved Testimonial on 13th September.

Meanwhile the Monarchs  broke the sad news that Arty Fisher, former junior rider, has passed away aged 83.

Arty rode in the second halves of the 1950s at Old Meadowbank, and continued to have a spin during the practise sessions of the 1960s, although he was more influential in those days as a mechanic and friend of many riders, both Monarchs and opposition.

Snooker

Granton snooker player Craig MacGillivray will represent Scotland alongside representatives from 15 other European nations against top Russian players in the 2013 World Pyramid (Russian Billiards) Championship held at Kemerovo Russia. The tournament last four days and begins on Wednesday.

In total 64 players will be competing for a share of the $50k prize fund with $10k going to the winner.

Pyramids is played on a full sized table. There are 16 balls but 15 racked in a pyramid are white and numbered. The object of the game is to pocket eight balls although the pockets are only marginally wider that the diameter of the balls requiring greater precision. Craig is delighted to have been selected although he anticipates that the Russian players will dominate and his aim is to win at least one match.

Badminton

Congratulations to Edinburgh’s Jilly Cooper who won the Woman’s Doubles along with Kirsty Gilmour in the 2013 Yonex Scottish National Championship at Bell’s sports Centre in Perth.