All eyes will be on Easter Road today with Hibs’ fans awaiting news of a managerial appointment to replace Pat Fenlon. Elsewhere well done Hearts following a dramatic comeback at Pittodrie and congratulations to the Edinburgh Capitals for ending a dismal run of results.
International Rugby
Scotland 42 Japan 17
Tries Scotland: Seymour 2, Laidlaw, Dickinson, Weir, Lamont Cons: Laidlaw 2, Weir Pens: Laidlaw 2
Tries Japan: Fukuoka 2Cons: Goromaru 2Pen: Goromaru
Rugby Round-up by John Preece
With the International at Murrayfield, it was a fairly depleted club weekend with the opening round of the Edinburgh District competitions being played.
In Pool 1, a weakened Watsonians still managed to put Musselburgh to the sword, 59-23, under the lights at Myreside on Friday night, while, on Saturday, a probably equally depleted Boroughmuir side defeated Haddington 32-19 in Haddington.
In Pool 2, Currie disposed of Biggar 34-12, again under lights, at Malleny Park in Balerno.
Pool 3 had Heriots away at Livingston for their 41-10 win, at the same time as Stewarts-Melville were edging Murrayfield Wanderers at home 25-20.
So the expected sides won through against lower division teams, but it gives them a chance to test themselves against superior opposition, although usually not at full strength, and to see what life could be like higher up the echelons of Scottish Rugby.
One point that might be worth making is regarding the scheduling of fixtures on International match days. As the club calendar appears to be fairly crowded, then not having matches may not be feasible, but how players/officials/spectators are expected to get from even Inverleith to Murrayfield from a 12:30 start, never mind Haddington, in time for a 2:30 kick-off at Murrayfield is beyond comprehension. Yes, if the club has lights – e.g. Watsonians and Currie – Friday night matches are possible, but surely the others could be played to 11:00 am or on even the non-match day, be that Saturday or Sunday. Could boost the crowds… A bit…
Heriots were also playing on the Murrayfield back pitches where the Under-18 school side were playing their counterparts from Dundee for a place in the Brewin-Dolphin U-18 Cup Final. But is was to be the Tayside team that won through, taking the match 27-12 in, sometimes, trying conditions to their place in the final where they will meet the winners from the meeting between Watsonians and Strathallan, which will be played on the 11th November. The ER photographer/reporter was present at the Heriots-Dundee match for a short time before the International and managed to capture a Heriot’s run-away try which drew them level at 12-12, but, unfortunately for Heriots, Dundee took a stranglehold on the match and racked up another 15 points for the win.
SPFL Football
Mixed fortuned this weekend for the capital clubs. Hearts travelled to Pittodrie where they went one nil down to a 26th minute Niall McGinn. Twelve minutes later Jamie MacDonald produced a fine save to deny McGinn a second from the penalty spot.
Nine minutes after the break, Barry Robson was sent off after tripping Jason Holt and Hearts took full advantage. Danny Wilson flocked on a Jordan McGhee free-kick and Jamie Walker was on hand to equalise.
Walker then found Callum Paterson who tapped in for Hearts’ second then Ryan Stevenson secured the points in injury time.
At Easter Road, Hibs produced a dismal display in front of the lowest home league crowd of the season which included management target Terry Butcher who watched from the West Stand.
James Collins gave away a penalty after 14 minutes which Nick Ross converted then three minutes later Billy McKay added a second.
Congratulations go to Jason Cummings who made his first team debut coming on as a second half substitute for James Collins.
An announcement on the vacant manager’s post is expected early this week.
Lowland League
A Keith McLeod goal was enough to secure the three points as Spartans beat Edinburgh City in a hard fought encounter at Ainslie Park.
The goal came on the half hour mark when Kevin Motion played an inch perfect pass to the feet of McLeod who took a touch before slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Dougie Gair had a chance to equalise for the visitors just before half time but his shot flew just over the bar from just a few yards out.
City piled the pressure in the latter stages but Spartans were able to hold on, much to the delight of the noisy home crowd and move further clear at the top of the Lowland League.
Malt & Hops Man of the Match: Danny O’Donnell.
Elsewhere:
Dalbeattie Star 3-3 Preston Athletic FT
East Kilbride 1-2 University of Stirling FT
Gala Fairydean Rovers 3-0 Whitehill Welfare FT
Gretna 2008 2-3 Vale of Leithen FT
Threave Rovers 0-0 Selkirk FT
Central Taxis East of Scotland League Premier Division
Coldstream 1-4 Tynecastle
Craigroyston 6-1 Stirling University
Edinburgh University 1-3 Leith Athletic
Heriot-Watt University 0-0 Spartans
Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 2-0 Civil Service Strollers
First Division
Duns 0-1 Berwick Rangers Reserves
Eyemouth United 3-3 Burntisland Shipyard
Ormiston 2-3 Kelso United
Peebles Rovers 3-2 Hawick Royal Albert
Easthouses Lily MW 4-1 Hibernian
Women’s Football
Congratulations to Hibs Under 15s who beat Glasgow City 1-0 to win the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
Ice Hockey
Congratulations to Edinburgh Capitals for ending a poor run of results with a fantastic 7-6 win over Nottingham Panthers in overtime at Murrayfield last night.
The Caps stormed into a 4-0 lead before the Panthers fought back and levelled the scores at 6-6 with minutes remaining.
A penalty goal in overtime secured the win. I full match report including some excellent photographs by John Preece will appear on the Edinburgh Reporter website later today.
Speedway
The Scotwaste Monarchs team of 2013 all gathered together last Sunday at the Edinburgh Capital Hotel to celebrate a fine season along with 180 supporters.
All the riders were present with the biggest cheer of the evening going to Jozsef Tabaka who was still smiling, although clearly struggling to walk on crutches.
Craig Cook also received a huge ovation when he came to the floor to speak and what came across loud and clear was the fantastic team spirit that the team has generated over the past few weeks.
The evening was a fund raiser for the Air Fence Fund and produced a contribution of more than £1000 to that Fund. John Campbell announced during the evening that the Fund stood at £3259.94 with a large part of that coming from Bob Miller’s sponsored swim. The sale of 2013 Monarchs calendars are also producing a good income for the fund and these remain on sale through the Club’s website.
The next event on the agenda for Air Fence fund raising is “An evening with Craig Cook” which takes place on Friday 29th November. More details of this very special event will follow later this week.
Basketball
Dunfermline Reign SM 64-108 Glasgow Rocks SM
Boroughmuir Blaze SM 60-63 Glasgow University SM
Stirling Knights SM 54-109 St Mirren West College Scotland SM
Cup Quarter Final Glasgow University SW 33-73 City of Edinburgh Kool Kats SW
Cup Quarter Final Clark Eriksson Fury SW 90-32 Aberdeen University SW
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.
