The Edinburgh Reporter’s Weekly Sports Round-up

It’s been a busy week for Edinburgh sport, and the Reporter highlights some excellent team performances as well as individual achievements in a variety of fields today. Firstly however we would like to send our best wishes to Edinburgh born former Rangers, Hearts and Scotland star, Sandy Jardine, who is recovering after chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with throat and liver cancer. Elsewhere our congratulations go to another football legend, Dave McKay who will appear on a series if stamps issued by the Royal Mail depicting a dream-team selected from the home nations.

Rugby

Scotland bounced back from opening day defeat to England with a record breaking 34-10 victory over Italy to get their Six Nations campaign underway at Murrayfield on Saturday. After two early penalties from Greig Laidlaw, Tim Visser added to the points with a breakaway try.

Tries from Matt Scott and Stuart Hogg following an 80 yard interception, increased the lead for Scotland before Sean Lamont completed the rout with his ninth international try. Alessandro Zanni scored a late try which was mere consolation for the Italians who surprised everyone last week by beating France.

Scotland’s previous record win in the Championship was the 32-10 victory against Ireland in 2001. Read our John Preece’s report here.

Scotland v Italy

The Under-20’s got the weekend off to a winning start with an emphatic victory over their Italian counterparts. Three tries, three penalties and three conversions gave the young Scots a nicely balanced 30-17 win in Galashiels. Leading 10-3 at half time, the Scots put in a fine performance in the second half, only tripping up at the final hurdle to allow the visitors through for a second try with just a few moments left.

Unfortunately, the women didn’t manage to complete the clean sweep in Dundee. In spite of having the majority of possession they just couldn’t cross the whitewash. Italy lead 3-0 at half time before a second half try gave them the 8-0 win. Scotland’s women have now failed to win any of their 6-Nation’s matches since they beat France in 2010, but it certainly isn’t from any lack of effort on the part of the playing or coaching staff.

It was more bad news however for Edinburgh Rugby who went down 30-3 to Munster in Cork, in the RaboDirect PRO12 league.

A Piers Francis penalty gave Edinburgh an early lead and the Scottish team were only 6-3 behind at the break, but 20 points from man of the match Ian Keatley’s right boot plus tries from CJ Stander and Mike Sherry capped a home win for the Irish team.

Meanwhile 22 year old centre Dougie Fife has been rewarded with an upgraded contract after completing an apprenticeship at Edinburgh Rugby. Fife made his Scotland ‘A’ debut last weekend in a victory over Saxons, and has played in five of the club’s six Heineken Cup matches this season, scoring two tries against Munster.

Currie beat Heriots 16-14 in the RBS Edinburgh regional Cup Final at Malleny Park on Friday night. The result sees Currie progress to the home National Cup Quarter Final where they will play Dundee.

In the Scottish Premiership, Boroughmuir beat Dundee High 40-20 whilst Edinburgh Accies beat Melrose 19-20 at the Greenyards.

Stewart’s-Melville came from 10-5 down to beat Watsonians 24-10 in the RBS National League.

Football

Our congratulations go the Edinburgh football legend Dave McKay who has been included in a Royal Mail ‘Dream Team’ made up from Home Internationalists who have graced the top league in England. The stamps, illustrated by artist Andrew Kinsman, are to mark the 150th anniversary of Association Football rules being established.

McKay was born in the capital and brought up in the Glendevon area before joining boyhood heroes Hearts. He was part of the Hearts team of the late 1950s who won the League title, the Scottish Cup and two League Cups, before moving south to join Tottenham Hotspurs in 1959, for whom he won the League and Cup double in 1960/1. At Spurs, he won a further two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup Winners Cup. In 1968, he was offered the job of Hearts manager, but at the last minute, Brian Clough persuaded him to join Derby County, and he helped the club win the Second Division title.

In 1974, he replaced Clough as manager at the Baseball Ground and won the English First Division in 1974/5.

Former Hibs player George Best also features in the team.

Edinburgh’s Gordon Strachan began his role as Scotland manager with a 1-0 win against Estonia at Pittodrie last Wednesday. His team included Edinburgh born Alan McGregor and Christophe Berra, whilst Kenny Miller made a second half appearance as a substitute. Captain was former Hibs favourite Scott Brown, with ex Easter Road team-mate Steven Fletcher starting up front. Hearts’ defender Andy Webster also had a spell wearing the captain’s armband, when Brown was substituted.

Hearts star Callum Tapping made his Under 21 debut in a 1-1 draw with Greece, alongside team-mate Kevin McHattie.

Elsewhere, Hibs midfielder Jorge Claros came on as a late sub in Horduras’s 2-1 win over Jurgen Kiliisman’s USA in San Pedro Sula, whilst Ryan McGivern did not travel to Malta with Northern Ireland due to injury.

Hearts travelled to Tannadice on Saturday without teenage striker Callum Paterson who will be out for the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his foot during a training session two weeks ago. John McGinn’s men went a goal down to a Johnny Russell strike in the second minute, before captain Marius Zaliukas went off injured and Ryan Stevenson was sent off in the 25^th minute. Willo Flood added a second on 62 minutes, but on-form striker Michael Ngoo pulled one back with fourteen minutes remaining. As Hearts tried for an equaliser, Michael Gardyne forced home a Jon Daly cross in the dying minutes re secure the three points. This result leaves Hearts in 10^th position in the SPL on 30 points.

Congratulations are due to Hibs midfielder Gary Deegan whose wonder-goal in last weekend’s cup victory over Aberdeen won the Sky Sports Goal of the Week award gaining a staggering 84% of the vote.

Hibs take on St Johnstone at Easter Road on Monday night, kick off 7.30pm.

In a busy weekend for the East of Scotland League teams, Civil Service Strollers beat Vale of Leithen 2-0 at Muirhouse, in the Central Taxis Premier Division, whilst Edinburgh City beat Edinburgh University 3-1 at Meadowbank, and Tynecastle drew 1-1 away to Preston Athletic.

In the South Challenge Cup, All-In First Round Spartans took an early lead when Threave Rovers defender Parker deflected a Kevin Motion in-swinging corner past his own keeper. After nine minutes, John Ferguson doubled their advantage and a few minutes later Keith McLeod lobbed the keeper, but his effort was ruled out by the linesman. Kevin Motion added a third on 26 minutes, and the Ainslie Park outfit went in at halftime with a 3-0 lead. Rovers were not finished however and scored within a minute of the restart through Colin McKay. On the hour mark, Rovers defender Arnold Bembo was shown a red card after an altercation with Keith McLeod. With 18 minutes remaining, John Warren pulled another back, but Spartans held out for a 3-2 win. The Malt and Hops man of the match award went to Kevin Sievewright.

Elsewhere Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale beat St Cuthberts 3-1 at Saughton Enclosure,

Athletics

Olympic heptathlon gold medal winner Jessica Ennis will start her 2013 season at Meadowbank on 8 June 2013 in the Edinburgh Woman’s League.

Boxing

Craigmillar Boxing Club raised almost £2500 at a show at the Jewel Miners Club. The event, which attracted a crowd of over 200, was held in memory of teenager Brett Lodge the cousin of the club’s fitness coach Colin McCourt who was murdered in July 2011.

The club are delighted to donate the majority of proceeds to the unit at the Royal Infirmary that deals with severe head injuries. Boxer Jason Easton was also awarded the Brett Lodge Memorial Trophy for his prowess displayed in the ring. A further event is planned for September.

Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do Edinburgh hosted its annual fight and awards at Portobello Town Hall last week, with a total of 22 bouts, against representatives from clubs from Uddingston and Hamilton.

The climax to the evening then pitched three of Edinburgh’s most exciting prospects Callum Preston, Scott Hughes and David Hand who registered a 2-1 victory over their Polish opponents.

Former two-time world champion James Watson, who runs the club alongside Angus Budge and Luke McGowan, also praised Colinton’s Dean Reid and Lewis Harrison, and Meadowbank’s Kerry Laird for their individual performances.

TAGB (Tae Kwon Do Association Great Britain) which is Europe’s largest single martial arts organisation are keen to stage either the British Championships or the World Championships in Edinburgh, although there is not a big enough venue available at this time.

Snooker

Granton snooker player Craig MacGillivray defeated Holland’s Jaris Haas 6-0 to reach the last 32 of the 2013 World Pyramid Championships in Kemerovo, Russia, before losing 6-0 to Poland’s Kasper Filiak.

Basketball

It was a clean sweep for the City of Edinburgh Basketball teams this weekend. The Senior Men: Kings beat Glasgow Rocks 121-57 to retain their top spot in the National League, whilst the Senior Women: Kats did likewise beating Tayside 74-49.

In other results, the U18 Women: Kats beat Tayside and the U16 Women: Kats beat Tayside 59-41. TheU18 Men: Kings beat Highland 86-57 whilst the U16 Men: Kings beat Highland 72-50 to cap an excellent weekend for the Club.

Edinburgh University have virtually clinched the Scottish Universities basketball title with a 72-62 win over nearest rivals Dundee at the Pleasance. Although Edinburgh still have three games to play, they are now two wins clear of Dundee and would need to lose all three remaining fixtures to weaker opponents for Dundee to catch them.

American Ryan Ness and team captain Ben Warrington were Edinburgh’s joint top scorers with 19 points as they thrived on the service provided by former US NCAA division one player at San Diego Michael Kirkpatrick and Scottish point guard Davy Rowan.

Edinburgh University play Worcester 2nds at the Pleasance in the BUCS Cup on Wednesday before travelling to Fife where they will play the University of St Andrews 1^st later that day.

The Women’s team are also in a very strong position and could become Champions when they play Dundee on Wednesday. They have won all six games this season and lead nearest rivals Dundee by six points although they have a vastly superior points difference. Last Wednesday they beat Aberdeen 90-17.

Ice Hockey

Goals from Brett Patry, Michal Benadik, Rene Jarolin and Martin Cingel gave the Edinburgh Capitals a 4-1 win away from home against Braehead Clan on Saturday night, but Sunday’s visit from Fife Flyers was the game everyone was waiting on. The Capitals’ players were determined to gain revenge for last weeks humiliation in Kirkcaldy, and prior to the game Jade Portwood told fans: “I’m guarenteeing all the boys, including myself will be super pumped for the game.”

Portwood was as good as his word as the Capitals produced a stunning performance, beating their rivals 7-2 to cap an excellent weekend.

Volleyball

City of Edinburgh continued with their 100% record in the Schelde Sports Men’s National League Division 1, beating South Ayrshire 3-0, 25/19, 25/21, 25/13 to retain top spot with 33 points from 11 games

Edinburgh Jets came from a set behind to beat Glasgow Mets 3-1, 20/25, 25/22, 28/26, 27/25, and they currently sit 3^rd on 29 points.

City of Edinburgh Women’s Team beat South Ayrshire 3-0, 25/14, 25, 21, 25/14, and remain in second place in the Schelde Sports Women’s National League Division 1 on 29 points from 11 games.

Edinburgh Jets beat fellow Edinburgh team NUVOC 3-0, 25/13, 25/19, 25/15. The Jets currently sit 5^th on 23 points, whilst NUVOC lie in 7^th place on 13 points.

Speedway

Edinburgh Monarchs new teenager rider Max Fricke, who recently won the Australian Under 21 title, has enjoyed further success in his home country by taking top honours in the Undera Solo Pairs along with Jack Holder.

Max and Jack won the event, ahead of second placed Taylor Poole and Brady Kurtz, with World Champ Chris Holder in third place alongside Brad Tillet.

The Monarchs’ season starts on Friday March 29 with a home fixture against Berwick Bandits.