The Edinburgh Reporter’s Weekly Sports Roundup
Commiserations this week to Hibs who were unable to end their Scottish Cup Hoodoo, losing 3-0 to Celtic at Hampden.
And congratulations go to Edinburgh University male and female rowing teams for beating their Glasgow rivals in the annual boat race on the Clyde, and also to Edinburgh City for winning the Central Taxis East of Scotland League Cup. Also, well done to Tynecastle 16s and Hutchison Vale 15s who both won trophies.
Football
Hibs’ fans travelled to Hampden in high spirits hoping to see the Scottish Cup finally return to Leith, but two first half goals by Gary Hooper and a late goal by Joe Ledley ensured that the cup remained in the east end of Glasgow.
The scoreline flattered The Hoops as Hibs created several good chances, but were unable to finish.
The SPL Board met last Monday to decide whether Hearts had broken SPL rules following the news that majority shareholder UBIG were listed on a Lithuanian government website of insolvent firms after reportedly declaring itself unable to meet its liabilities.
One possible sanction had been an 18 point deduction which would have resulted in the club being relegated, however the board concluded that on the evidence available, no action would be taken at that time. Their statement read:- “The SPL Board met today to consider reports from Lithuania in respect of Ukio Banko Investicine Grupe. The board are not satisfied on the basis of information currently available to it that an insolvency event (as defined by SPL rules) occurred in respect of UBIG during season 2012-13.”
Since then, a consortium of Scandinavian businessmen, comprising of six men with an educational background in Edinburgh are reported to have dispatched a legal team to Kaunas to thrash out a deal for the club.
In the playing side, Gordon Smith joins Fraser Mullen, Darren Barr and Mehdi Taouil on the list of players who leave the club in the summer, while first team coach Edgaras Jankauskas and director Julija Goncaruk have also departed.
Two capital-based players have been named in Gordon Strachan’s Scotland Squad for the forthcoming game against Croatia in Zagreb next month:- Hearts’ Andy Webster and Hibs’ Leigh Griffiths. Edinburgh born Alan McGregor who now plays for Besiktas is also in the squad.
Central Taxis East of Scotland League Cup Final
Edinburgh City beat Spartans 2-0 in the final of the Central Taxis East of Scotland League Cup in Muirhouse at the home of Civil Service Strollers on Saturday.
First half goals from Robbie Ross and Dougie Gair secured the victory although Spartans spurned a great chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty after 60 minutes, but the normally reliable Keith McLeod’s effort was well saved by Andrew Stobbie in the City goal.
Women’s Football
Hibs came back from last week’s disappointing 4-0 defeat to Glasgow City, by beating Hamilton Accies 4-1 on Friday night, thanks to goals from Claire Emslie (2) Caroline Weir and Susan Fairlie.
Good luck to Spartans in Wednesday’s SWPL Cup Final against Glasgow City at Recreation Park Alloa.
Schoolboy Football
Tynecastle 16s continued their run of success by becoming the first winners of the Colin Greenhill Memorial Trophy, beating Leith Athletic 97s at Bonnyrigg Rose’s New Dundas Park.
Goals by Ciaran Small, Ryan Currie and Joe Walker gave Tynecastle a 3-0 lead before Paddy Ryan pulled one back. An own goal just before the break added to Tynecastle’s lead.
Brandon Brammer made it 4-2 before Kyle Mitchell secured the win.
Hutchison Vale 15s beat Cavalry Park 6-2 at New Dundas Park to win the John McConnell Memorial Cup. Ethan Feachen-Hamilton scored a hat-trick whilst Regan Hendrie, Ryan Fox and Arran Singh scored the others. Aiden Holligan and Ross Lamb scored for Calvary.
Currie Star won the Charles Porter League Cup, beating Dalkeith CYP 1-0 at Saughton Enclosure thanks to an Andrew Lickley long range strike midway through the first half.
Rugby by John Preece
With even less in the action stakes to report on this week – until the South African tour gets underway, at least, there were more goodbyes to say at Murrayfield.
Yet another stalwart of Scottish Rugby hung up their metaphorical boots this week. Serving steadfastly for more than 30 years and seeing feted heroes come and go, the metal posts at Murrayfield have now been dismantled for the last time. To celebrate the end of an era, the SRU invited anybody and everybody along to ‘have a go’.’ More than 1000 supporters turned up to be coached in the art of kicking by Chris Paterson, Duncan Hodge and Gavin Hastings. And it was fittingly to be Chris Paterson – Scotland’s record cap holder and points scorer – who took the final kick through the said uprights to seal a fine tribute to a Murrayfield fixture.
The SRU now invite clubs around the country to submit, in no more than 50 words, an application to win the posts and have them installed at their ground by Murrayfield ground-staff. So what are you waiting for?
Edinburgh Marathon
Well done to everyone who took part in Sunday’s Edinburgh Marathon as well as the EMF 10k, 5k and Junior races held the day before.
Runners can check their results at results.edinburgh-marathon.com
Rowing
Congratulations to Edinburgh University rowers who beat their Glasgow rivals in the 136th annual boat race which took place on Saturday along the River Clyde between the Kingston Bridge and the Tall Ships.
The capital teams won both the male and female races on the 1.7 route, the first time the men had done so since 1999.
High Jump
Edinburgh high jumper Allan Smith was selected and competed for Scotland winning his first senior cap at the Loughborough International last Sunday. He jumped a new personal best of 2.22m (7ft 3in) and was runner up in the high jump competition. The mark was 5cm above the Scotland team’s qualification standard for the Commonwealth Games and also served as European Athletics Under 23 Championship qualifying standard for Team GB and Northern Ireland. The Championship takes place in Tampere Finland from 10-14 July and this is the fourth time that Allan has met the standards since the window opened, No other British high jumper in this age group has met the standard so far.
Speedway
Another fine victory for the Monarchs on Friday, beating reigning champions Scunthorpe 56-36 at Armadale. The Monarchs led from heat 1 and never looked in any danger of getting beat.
Craig Cook and Theo Pipers were in top form as usual and there was a season’s best 8+2 for Derek Sneddon whilst Claus Vissing scored 8.
Ice Hockey
Edinburgh Capitals have announced the return of Slovakian forward Peter Holecko for his third season. Holecko contributed 13 goals last season.
Golf
Harrisons have won the Edinburgh Municipal Clubs Winter League for the first time, sealing victory with a 2-5 1-5 win over Silverknowes at the Braids.
Dougie Waugh and Stuart More beat Tom Caldwell and Kenny Alexander 3 and 2; Iain Ashley and Brian Byers lost to Kevin Reilly and Iain Doig 3 and 2; Scott Knowles and Justin White beat Keith Reilly and Murray Paterson 2 and 1; Mike Roberts and Cameron Bruce halved with Graham Robertson and Paul Heggie.
Two Edinburgh golfers have won limited edition ‘BOSS’ watches for scoring a hole in one in club competitions. Andrew McCreadie (66) did so at the 155 yard 15th at Carrickvale whilst Robert Hamilton (46) hit his ace at the 214 yard third at Baberton.
Finally from Hampden…although the reports are that the Hibs fans were gracious in defeat, we have to show you one half of The Proclaimers who does not look best pleased at the result…
