Hibs came from behind to win the Edinburgh Derby, thanks to another stunning free kick from Leigh Griffiths and a last minute goal from teenage striker Ross Caldwell at Tynecastle on Sunday. Congratulations go to Edinburgh Boxer Stephen Simmons for winning the Celtic Cruiserweight Belt and the Edinburgh Monarchs for progressing to the League Cup Semi-Final thanks to a win over Glasgow Tigers.
Rugby by John Preece
The Scotland Sevens team were playing in a second-tier qualifier’s tournamet at Twickenham over the weekend to try to ensure ‘core team’ status for next season. Failing to gain such status would mean that Scotland would only be guaranteed a place, by invitation, at the Sevens in Scotland next year.
Day one was the for the opening rounds to determine who would win through to the Quarter-finals on the Sunday. Scotland were up against Georgia, Zimbabwe and Hong-Kong and disposing of Georgia 29-0 and having a slightly harder game, but still beating Zimbabwe 21-14, they had qualified, but still had to play Hong Kong. As many teams have found out to their cost in the past, Hong Kong are no pushovers. And so it proved.
Despite being ahead with a couple of minutes left, Scotland fell victim to two late tries to end up losing 20-19, and another major(-ish) scalp fell to the men from the Far East. However, Scotland had topped their group and thus went on to the quarter-finals. Incidentally, the South China Morning Post were well pleased that Hong Kong were drawn against Scotland in the preliminaries, as they had doubts about beating them in the knock-out rounds. They should have been a bit more careful about what they had wished for, as they beat the Scots, but went out 29-14 to Spain in the QF’s.
So, Day 2 and knock-out rugby. This was a day of no second chances. The men in blue – or, occasionally, white – could afford no more slip-up’s. First up were Tonga, who’s full XV side had sounded the death knell for Andy Robinson back in November. No qualification, and a whole host of players and back-room staff would be joining him on the sidelines! But it was a match which saw the best of Scotland Seven’s rugby. With five tries and three conversions, they put the Tongans away fairly easily and went on to face Russia in their final match of the weekend. With Russia being one of the up-and-coming teams in World rugby, both at this format and the XV-a-side game, this match was going to be a very different prospect. Or, should have been. The Scots hammered away, eventually scoring three tries and two conversions to win the match 19-0, and securing their place in the Championship. Phew..! They will be joined by Spain, who beat Portugal 10-5 and Portugal then went on to beat Russia 10-5 to take the all important 15th and final place.
(Photo – Scotland in action at Murrayfield)
Football
Hearts have taken 21 year-old Fulham defender James Musa on trial. Musa was born in Plymouth, and joined Fulham last summer after representing New Zealand at the 2012 Olympics.
Hibs under 20s ended the season in style, beating Celtic twice within the space of three days. On Tuesday night, goals from Jay Doyle and Ross Caldwell gave Hibs a 2-1 win at Firhill over Celtic team who had not been beaten for 18 games, then on Thursday night at Easter Road, Jay Doyle and Dean Horribine scored the goals in another 2-1 victory.
A last minute goal from Hibs’ teenage striker Ross Caldwell gave Hibs a 2-1 win against Hearts in the Edinburgh Derby at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Hearts took the lead just before half time when a Jamie Walker corner was headed goal-wards by Michael N’Goo, only for Lewis Stevenson to head the ball off the goal-line. The ball landed at the feet of Darren Barr who was lying on the ground, but the Hearts defender was able to scoop it into the net.
Hibs equalised in the 47th minute when Leigh Griffiths struck a sensational 30 yard free kick into the top corner of the net, and with the game heading for a draw, Ross Caldwell latched onto a Scott Robertson pass and curled an inch perfect shot past Jamie McDonald into the net, causing delirium amongst the Hibs fans in the Roseburn Stand.
The result sees Hibs leapfrog Hearts into 9th place in the SPL, and means that Hearts have gone a whole season without beating their city rivals; for the first time in 12 years.
After the game, a delighted Pat Fenlon said “It’s probably the best derby there’s been (this season).There was a lot of football played in it and I thought we were very, very good today. I said to them at half-time to go and win the game, not to go out and just try a get a point, and we did that.
“Young Alex [Harris] was different class. Ross [Caldwell] scored a goal to finish and he has a great record here at under- age level. Jordon Forster was different class at centre-half because he’s come up against two big lumps today and he’s dealt with them really well.
“They’ve taken a lot of flak for a long time particularly after the cup final last year. We haven’t won here for a while. It’s the first time in 11 or 12 years we’ve gone unbeaten against Hearts in a season, so they’re entitled to enjoy it. We’ve had our nose rubbed in it a bit over the last few years so it’s payback for them.”
Hearts: MacDonald, Barr, Webster, McHattie, Hamill, Stevenson, Taouil (D. Smith 80′), Walker, Holt (g. Smith 91′), Sutton, Ngoo (Carrick 73′). Substitutes not used: Ridgers, McKay, McGowan, King.
Hibs: Williams, Hanlon, Maybury, Forster, Claros, Stevenson, Taiwo, Harris, Thomson (Robertson 80′), Griffiths, Caldwell. Substitutes not used: Murdoch, Donaldson, Deegan, Wotherspoon, Doyle, Handling.
Attendance: 15,994.
East of Scotland Football
In midweek, Spartans beat Heriot-Watt University 3-1 at Riccarton to go level on points with Whitehill Welfare at the top of the table. Whitehill are top by the narrowest of margins, having scored four more goals than Spartans, as both clubs have a goal difference of plus 27.
Willie Bremner gave Spartans the lead after ten minutes then doubled the lead just after the break. Michael Webster headed in from close range for the students, before substitute John Ferguson wrapped up the points for Spartans in injury time.
Stirling University kept the pressure on with a 4-0 win against Preston Athletic with goals and Gretna 2008 beat Civil Service Strollers 2-0.
On the First Division leaders Craigroyston beat Burntisland Shipyard 5-1 thanks to goals from Bryan Wilson, Errol Douglas, Stevie Moncur, Mark Hendrie and Scott Ritchie to stretch Craigroyston’s lead at the top to four points.
Leith Athletic are still very much in the promotion hunt, beating Peebles Rovers 4-0 thanks to goals from Greig Tulloch, Lewis Tracey and a double from Jason Stevens.
On Saturday Spartans travelled to Whitehill Welfare for a top of the table clash, but returned empty handed after suffering a 2-0 defeat.
Elsewhere Edinburgh University were relegated despite a 1-1 draw with Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale at Saughton Enclosure. Civil Service Strollers lost 4-0 at home to Stirling University and Tynecastle went down 2-1 to Gretna, whilst Edinburgh City beat Preston Athletic 1-0.
In the First Division, Craigroyston beat Eyemouth 3-0 and Leith Athletic hammered Gala Fairydean 5-0 in the Borders.
Women’s Football
On midweek, Spartans created a shock by beating pre-match favourites Hibernian Ladies 2-1 in the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup Semi-Final. Louise Mason and Sarah Ewens gave the Ainslie Park team a two goal advantage before Katey Turner pulled one back in the last minute, but Spartans held on to secure their fourth consecutive final where they will meet either Forfar Farmington or Glasgow City.
On Sunday Hibs travelled to Saughton Enclosure where they hammered Hutchison Vale 9-0.
At Ainslie Park, Spartans lost 1-0 to Rangers.
Speedway
The Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs qualified for the League Cup semis with a 56-36 win over Glasgow Tigers, despite poor weather conditions at Armadale on Friday.
Jozsef Tabaka had four wins and one heat where he finished second to partner Theo Pijper.
Craig Cook only dropped one point and Theo Pijper won three heats whilst youngster Max Fricke continued his steady progress.
So far Monarchs and Sheffield have both qualified for the semi-finals with the other two sections still to be decided.
Boxing
Many congratulations to Edinburgh boxer Stephen Simmons who won the vacant Celtic Cruiserweight belt at the Fighting Pride of Scotland Show at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow in Saturday night.
Stephen won bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi as an amateur, and he looked in great shape, weighing in at just over 14 stones. He knocked opponent Michael Sweeney from Co Mayo down with a fierce left hook at the end of the first round, which resulted in a count of eight. Stephen then totally dominated the second and third rounds before Sweeney retired with a rib injury before the fourth bell sounded.
Ice Hockey
Edinburgh Capital’s Czech international defenceman Michal Dobron has turned down an extension to his contract, opting instead to sign for French club, Morzine-Avoriaz.
Judo
The Edinburgh Club took a sizeable contingent to the British Judo Championships Crawley, including Connie Ramsay (-57kg), Jodie Mullen (-63kg), Sarah Adlington (+78kg), Graham Trinder (60kg), Alex Wallace (-66kg), Nicholas Thwaits (-73kg), Jack Smith (-73kg), Patrick Dawson (-73kg), Reece Calder (-90kg), Sam Ingram (-90kg).
Congratulations to Graham Trinder who won a silver medal, and Connie Ramsay who won bronze.
Golf
The draw for the Pollock (Scotrans) Ltd-sponsored Edinburgh Summer League title means that The Royal Burgess team will feature in a round-robin group with Prestonfield, Silverknowes, Duddingston and Liberton in Section A. Section B includes Musselburgh, Turnhouse, Merchants, Bruntsfield Links, Ratho Park and Craigmillar Park. Glencorse, are in Section C along with Baberton, Royal Musselburgh, Broomieknowe, Kingsknowe and Torphin Hill, and, in Section D, Murrayfield, Newbattle, Lothianburn, Mortonhall, Swanston New and West Linton will compete.
This year’s semi-finals will take place on September 1 at Murrayfield and Ratho Park, with the final due to be played Dalmahoy on September 15.
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.
