Rugby by John Preece
Four out of six wins for Edinburgh teams this weekend, with another derby ensuring six out of six would, again, be a hard, if not impossible, task.
So, another derby match topped the Premiership fixture list this weekend as Edinburgh Academy took a shortcut through the Botanics to Goldenacre to play Heriots in Round 6 of this season’s competition, and were sent back along to Raeburn Place nursing a 30-17 defeat by the home side. Currie, in spite of their long injury list, managed to secure their first win of the season away from home against Aberdeen Grammar, 23 points to 22.
Heriots’ win takes them up to second in the table with 22 points – only one point behind Melrose – while Accies drop from fourth to fifth. Currie, in spite of their win, remain in tenth and last place, but add the four points for their win to bring their total up to six points.
There was a change at the top of the National League as Boroughmuir took a 43-5 victory over Selkirk home to Meggetland to stands alone in first. Our suggestion last week about ‘things going to plan…’ put a Hex on Watsonians as the Myreside men suffered their first defeat of the season at Kelso, going down 32-31 from a late, converted try. Stewarts-Melville managed their second win in a row with a 31-13 victory at Hillhead/Jordanhill.
‘Muir’s win means they are now clear at the top of the national League table with 29 points with five bonus point wins, while Watsonians, who came away from Kelso with two bonus points – four tries and a ‘within seven’ losing point – are in an equally clear second place with 26 points. Stew-Mel remain in sixth with 15. It’s all to play for, as they say…
(Library photo – Stew-Mel v Hillhead)
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography
Football
The big talking point this week was the League Cup Quarter Final draw which paired Hibs and Hearts at Easter Road on Wednesday October 30. The game will be shown live on BBC with a 7pm kick off. Ticket details will be announced in due course.
Hibs secured their place with a fine 5-3 win over Stranraer on Tuesday night, with a hat-trick from Liam Craig, a first goal from Abdellah Zoubir and an own goal following a great cross by Rowan Vine.
The following night, Hearts and Queen of the South fought out an epic battle which ended 3-3 after extra time. Hearts goal-scorers were Kevin McHattie, Jamie Hamill and Danny Wilson. The Gorgie side went through 4-2 on penalties.
On Saturday, Hibs travelled to Inverness but left empty handed following a Richie Foran goal sandwiched between a Billy Mackay double whilst Hearts were unlucky not to take all three points at Tynecastle, drawing 0-0 with Dundee United.
Lowland League
Spartans lost 2-1 to on-form Preston Athletic in Pretonpans on Saturday. Gary McCormack opened the scoring in just the second minute when he muscled his way past Kevin Sivewright before his near post strike slipped under the arm of Scott Bennett. The same player doubled Preston’s advantage in the 53rd minute, latching onto a Robbie Arthur free kick at the back post
Spartans pulled one back when Jack Beesley’s cross bounced off Preston defender Richard Ramsay and into his own goal, then had most of the ball in the final few minutes without creating any clear chances.
The Spartan Army travel to Coatbridge next Saturday where they face Albion Rovers in the Scottish Cup.
Elsewhere Edinburgh City beat Stirling University 1-0 at Meadowbank thanks to a first half strike from Mark McConnell.
Spartans sit second one point behind leaders Vale of Leithen whilst Edinburgh City move up to ninth.
Central Taxis East of Scotland League
Craigroyston beat neighbours Spartans 3-1 and Edinburgh University beat Civil Service Strollers 3-0 at Peffermill. Leith Athletic lost 3-1 to Coldstream, whilst Heriot-Watt University beat Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 3-2 at Riccarton. Stirling University beat Tynecastle 5-0 in Stirling.
Saturday’s results mean that Stirling retain top spot with 13 points from five games, three ahead of Edinburgh University. Coldstream remain bottom despite their victory over Leith Athletic.
In the First Division, Hibs kept up their impressive start to the campaign with a 2-1 win away to Duns. The Borders club took the lead in the first half, but goals from Gareth McCaffrey and Ryan Baptie (Penalty) secured their sixth straight win leaving them an incredible nine points clear at the top of the table after only six games.
There was added good news with midfielder Paul Cairney returning to action following his injury in training ahead of the Malmo game.
Women’s Football
Congratulations to Glasgow City who won their seventh straight league trophy with a 4-0 win over Hibs at Albyn Park Broxburn.
Elsewhere Falkirk beat Hutchison Vale 3-2
Speedway
The Scotwaste Monarchs secured 5-1 advantages in each of the last three heats to give them a comfortable 52-38 victory over Workington Comets and three points in the Premier Playoff group.
The Comets now have 5 from 3 matches, with Monarchs on 4 from 2. Attention will now turn to the Workington v Ipswich match tomorrow, after which we will know what Monarchs require from next week’s matches with Ipswich to win the group.
Craig Cook returned yet another 15 point maximum, and Theo Pijper did well, winning a last gasp heat 4 from Rene Bach which was important.
Jozsef Tabaka’s and Max Fricke both scored 9+1.
The Monarchs’ next match is at Ipswich on Thursday.
Hockey by Jonny Davis
Edinburgh University recorded their first victory of the season this Saturday, defeating Inverleith 4-2, to move into 7th place in division 1 of the Men’s National League.
Still searching for their first win of the campaign, Inverleith, remain rooted to the foot of the table alongside fellow Edinburgh side, Grange, who drew 2-2 with Western Wildcats this weekend.
With the season only in its very early stages, the current league standings will not cause much concern for the capital’s slow starters, yet Grange, who will represent Scottish hockey in European club competition for the third consecutive season this year, will be hoping their first campaign win comes sooner rather than later.
Cycling
City of Edinburgh cyclist Katie Archibald won the bronze medal in the 3-kilometre individual pursuit at the British Track Championships in Manchester.
The 19-year-old British junior champion clocked a personal best in to earn a spot in the third-place decider behind Olympic gold medallists Dani King and eventual winner Laura Trott.
City of Edinburgh’s Callum Skinner was fourth behind Kian Emadi, Ed Clancy and Matthew Crampton, and team-mate Bruce Croall also produced a personal best of 1:3.444 to take fifth spot.
Capital riders James McCallum and Evan Oliphant finished 10th and 11th respectively.
Athletics
Scottish Athletics named 23 athletes in the first tranche of home competitors for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. High jumpers Emma Nuttall and Jayne Nisbet, long jumper Sarah Warnock, hammer-thrower Susan McKelvie and 1500 metres ace Chris O’Hare are all long-term members of Edinburgh AC.
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.
