Congratulations go to former Hibs captain Ian Murray for keeping Dumbarton in the First Division against all odds, Hibs Ladies for a fantastic 10-1 win, Ross Caldwell for scoring his first SPL goal, Spartans for reaching the Kings Cup Final, Leith Athletic 16s for winning the Jackie Faichney Memorial Cup, the Edinburgh Monarchs for beating Berwick Bandits, Lewis Benson for winning silver in last weekend’s Belgrade Winners Tournament, basketball coach Donna Finnie who made history by being appointed as Head Coach to of Houston Baptist University women’s basketball team, the City of Edinburgh Kings and Kats for winning national trophies, the City of Edinburgh Volleyball team who won the Women’s Scottish Cup and thirteen year old Anastasia Mikheeva  from Duddingston, who won the girls under-18 singles trophy at the prestigious AEGON ITF tournament in Nottingham
Rugby by John Preece
After beating The Netherlands in their opening match, Scotland’s Women were looking forward to the Italy match in Madrid with a view to securing qualification for the next World Cup, but too many errors in the heat lead to a 27-3 defeat. Down 17-3 at half time, the Scots could not get their game plan to fire on all cylinders and, in spite of some good defence, could not hold the Italians out for long.
Needing to win, the Scottish girls went in to battle against Sweden in their final match on Saturday. Performing with great grit and determination, they ran in eleven tries to Sweden’s one. Although the teams were even at 5-5 after less than ten minutes, the Scots soon powered away to lead 27-8 at half time. They went on to score seven unanswered tries in the second half to put themselves into the mix for the two available places. The outcome depended on the results from other matches. However, with Samoa just beating The Netherlands and Spain winning over Italy, Scotland were unable to qualify and will sit out the 2014 Tournament. At least they now know what our football players feel like!
Earlier in the week there was a bit of news on the team front from Edinburgh. Allan ‘Chunk’ Jacobsen announced that he would be retiring from Professional rugby at the end of the current season after 16 years in the game playing for Edinburgh and Scotland (pictured above against the All Blacks).
Players leaving the team at the end of the season for pastures new were also named during the week as James King, Andy Titterell, Sep Visser and Mike Penn.
An inbound player was also announced as Tongan front-row, Aleki Lutui. He’s been signed on a two-year contract from Worcester Warriors.
Football
Congratulations go to former Hibs captain Ian Murray for guiding Dumbarton to safety in the SFL Division One. When Edinburgh-born Ian took over as manager in November, the team looked a certainty for relegation, however a string of good results has seen the ‘Sons of the Rock’ climb the table to seventh place, nine points clear of second bottom Cowdenbeath.
In the SPL, Hibs took the lead in the 30th minute from a stunning Leigh Griffiths’ strike, but St Mirren equalised through Goncalves after Steven Thompson’s effort had been blocked by James McPake.
Substitute Ross Caldwell added a second for Hibs with his first senior goal, before Marc McAusland equalised with a header, then scored a third to give the Buddies the lead with eight minutes remaining. Three minutes later, Leigh Griffiths scored his 27th goal of the season to grab a share of the points.
Great play by man of the match Alex Harris almost set up Tom Taiwo for a late winner, but the midfielder’s effort went inches past the post.
Hearts travelled to Dundee but returned empty handed after a late 30 yard free-kick from Ryan Conroy secured the points. The Tynecastle men played the majority of the game with 10 men after Andy Webster was sent off in the 28th minute.
The results leave Hibs in 9th place on 42 points with Hearts 10th on 40.
East of Scotland Football
Congratulations go to Spartans who are into the King Cup Final following a convincing 3-1 victory at home to Whitehill Welfare.
Spartans opened the scoring after just 7 minutes thanks to a back post header by Willie Bremner, and extended the lead in the 37th minute when a cross from the left wing was headed back across goal by Keith McLeod to Bremner who was waiting at the back post to poke the ball home.
Spartans grabbed a third in the 57th minute through Keith McLeod who slotted the ball into the corner of the net from 10 yards out.
Whitehill pulled a goal back three minutes later when Mike Bruce managed to force the ball home from 4 yards out from a corner.
Malt & Hops Man of the Match: Keith McLeod
Elsewhere in the Central Taxis League Cup, First Round, Edinburgh City beat 2-1, whilst in the Central Taxis Premier Division Heriot-Watt beat Vale of Leithen 2-1.
In the Central Taxis First Division Craigroyston hammered Eyemouth 7-2 whilst Leith Athletic beat Gala 4-0.
Off the field, Civil Service Strollers FC have confirmed they have entered into a Football Partnership with Salvesen Community FC. The agreement, which is for an initial two year period, allows a pathway for young players to develop within the game, and make the transition from Youth to Senior football. Both these Clubs have been at the forefront of Football within the Edinburgh area for a great number of years and are looking forward to a long and successful partnership. Both clubs will continue to operate under their individual names.
From next season the Civil Service Strollers First Team will be managed by former Salvesen Coach, Andy Raeburn, who returns to Civil Service Strollers for a second spell and former Salvesen player Ryan Harding joins Civil as First Team Coach/Player after playing over 180 SFL games mainly with Greenock Morton and Alloa Athletic.
Youth Football
Leith Athletic 16s fought back from a goal down to overcome AC Oxgangs 4-1 in the final of the Jackie Faichney Memorial Cup at Saughton Enclosure.
Lewis Murray opened the scoring for AC with a back post header, before Leith equalised on the stroke of half-time following a long range James Cook free kick, then took the lead when Paul Kennedy powered home a header from a Robbie Ewing cross
Gavin Brown added a third before Russell Hogg sealed victory with a fourth near the end, to secure the trophy for Leith.
Women’s Football
Another fantastic result for Hibs Ladies who beat Kilsyth 10-1 with goals from Lizzie Arnott (3), Susan Fairlie (2) Rachael Walkingshaw (2), Katie Turner, Kirsty Smith and Caroline Weir.
Meanwhile Spartans Women surrendered a two goal lead against Forfar Farmington in Tayside, and had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Boroughmuir High School Girls football team won the Scottish Schools senior shield following a penalty shoot-out in the final against Nicolson Institute from Stornoway.
The game ended in a 0-0 draw in Inverness but goalkeeper Hannah Michie saved the third penalty and Nicolson missed their fourth, whilst Ella Devlin, Cailin Michie,  Laura Kirkhouse and Katy Nelson all converted their spot kicks to ensure the ‘Black Cats’ brought home the cup.
Speedway
The Scotwaste Edinburgh Monarchs moved to the top of the northern League Cup section, with a 55-37 win over Berwick Bandits in terrible weather conditions at Armadale.
17 year old Australian Under-21 champion. Max Fricke was chosen as DDS Monarch of the Match. The team have a week off now before the visit of league champions Scunthorpe to Armadale.
Simon Gerrans, the 2012 Australian road cycling champion who happens to be Max Fricke’s cousin, was in the crowd along with Jeff Banks, the internationally famous fashion designer who co-founded the Warehouse fashion chain. One of his recent projects has been to design street wear for the Orca GreenEdge cycle team, hence the reason for the visit.
Boxing
There was a silver medal for Edinburgh boxer Lewis Benson in last weekend’s Belgrade Winners Tournament.
The 21-year-old from Lochend beat pre-tournament favourite Chladek from the Czech Republic in his first bout then beat Kazakhstan’s Suleiman Berdukayev before eventually losing to Canada’s Yves Ulysse Jr in the final by 13-5.
Elsewhere, Clovenstone’s Ryan McCutcheon (52kg) and Benson’s Lochend team-mate, Aston Brown (75kg), were both defeated at the quarter-finals stage by Serbia’s Milos Baltic and Hungary’s Zoltan Harcsa.
Hockey
Edinburgh University women’s hockey squad beat Grove Menzieshill 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Peffermill, to reach next month’s Scottish Cup final.
Now they face Glasgow-based Western, in the final on May 25 at the same venue. Western beat CALA Edinburgh 1-0 in the other semi-final.
Stewart’s Melville edged Grange 1-0 in the Scottish Plate semi-finals and will now play Watsonians, who beat Glasgow Accies 6-2, in the final.
Tennis
Former world tennis No. 1 Carlos Moya has confirmed his place in the field for Brodies Champions of Tennis, the first ever ATP Champions Tour event to be held in Scotland which place at the home of Edinburgh Accies rugby club from June 20-23.
Organisers also confirmed the final entries as South African Wayne Ferreira and the Swedish duo of Thomas Enqvist and Mikael Pernfors, who  join Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic , John McEnroe, Greig Rusedski and Mark Philippoussis at the tournament.
McEnroe, Ferreira and Pernfors take part in a special Legends event.
Of his forthcoming visit to Edinburgh Moya said: ‘Having the chance to play in Edinburgh is so exciting for me. I have never played there before, but I hear it is a great city. The player field looks amazing and I can’t wait to have the chance to play against people like Philippoussis, Henman and Ivanisevic. They’re all great players and old friends of mine from the Tour. It should be really great fun.’
Tickets are now on sale at www.championsoftennis.com
Schedule:
Thursday Afternoon (First match 2pm): Rusedksi v Philippoussis, Ferreira v Pernfors.
Thursday Evening (7pm): Henman v Ivanisevic, Rusedski/Moya v Enqvist/Pernfors.
Friday (2pm): Henman v Enqvist, Ferreira/Philippoussis v Ivanisevic/Pernfors. Evening: Rusedski v Moya.
McEnroe/Henman v Ferreira/Philippoussis. Saturday (2pm): McEnroe v Pernfors, Moya v Philippoussis, Enqvist v Ivanisevic.
Sunday (time tbc): Third v fourth, McEnroe v Ferreira followed by Brodies Champions of Tennis.
Edinburgh tennis starlet Anastasia Mikheeva  (13) from Duddingston, won the girls under-18 singles trophy at the prestigious AEGON ITF tournament in Nottingham at the weekend.
Seeded 12th, Anastasia won through six ties, including a three-set final against fellow Scot  Maia Lumsden, aged 14, from Glasgow.
Basketball
Congratulations go to former Edinburgh Council sports development officer and Scottish national basketball team coach, Donna Finnie, who has made basketball history by being appointed as Head Coach to of Houston Baptist University women’s basketball team, the HBU Huskies, who are an NCAA division one college team.
Donna, a former pupil of St Augustine’s High and graduate of Heriot-Watt University, is believed to e the first British Female Coach to achieve such a position.
Cycling
Edinburgh cyclist Callum Skinner has been named in the Great Britain Podium squad which comprises riders believed to be potential medal contenders at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
Judo
Leith’s Patrick Dawson lost to Russian Musa Mogushkov in the first round of the Under-73kg event at the European Judo Championships in Budapest. Dawson had gone into the championships with high hopes having beaten Olympic champion Mansur Isaev, also from Russia, in South America last month.
Edinburgh’s Sally Conway lost her opening bout in the second round against Slovenia’s Anka Pogacnik who landed a Yuko in the opening seconds. Conway tried to respond but failed to register a score.
Volleyball
It’s been a busy weekend in the volleyball calendar with a number of finals taking place at Wishaw. In the Women’s Scottish Cup Final, City of Edinburgh beat Edinburgh Jets 3-1, whilst the Jets lost to Kilmarnock Blaze in the Men’s Final.
Elsewhere Edinburgh Jets II went down 3-0 to Ragazzi II in the Men’s Scottish Plate.
Basketball
Congratulations to the City of Edinburgh Kings who beat Clark Eriksson Fury 68-66 in the Senior Men’s Play Off Final. Fury led 22-17 after the first quarter, but Kings fought back to lead 39-35 at half time. The second half started with two free throws for the Kings after a technical foul was called on Fury during the interval.
At the end of the third quarter, Kings led 56-44, but Fury dominated the last period and narrowed the final score to two points.
Earlier, the City of Edinburgh Kats beat St Mirren 82-47 in the Women’s Play Off Final. The Kats led 12-9 after the first quarter then 33-19 at half time. They ended the third quarter 20 points up 56-36 then dominated the last period to win by 35 points.
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.
