The Edinburgh Reporter’s Weekly Sports Roundup

 

Congratulations to Edinburgh Capitals for another fine victory against league leaders Belfast Giants and commiserations to Hibernian Ladies who lost to Glasgow City in the Scottish Cup Final at Broadwood.

Rugby by John Preece

As can be read elsewhere, Scotland were whitewashed by South Africa at Murrayfield in a fairly one sided affair which saw the visitors scoring four unanswered tries for their 28-0 win. It did come at some cost, however, as Francios Louw was stretchered off with just five minutes of play left. Max Evans nearly made it across the line for the Scots a  couple of minutes later, but the ball hadn’t been grounded so the TMO deemed it ‘no try’.

It was back to the leagues this week with all the Edinburgh clubs in action.

In the Premiership, Currie grabbed the headlines with a 24-15 win over reigning Champions, Ayr, at home. Heriots beat Stirling County 33-16 at home, while Edinburgh Academy went down 30-10 away to Hawick.

In the table, Heriots drop to third, but with the same points, 42, as Melrose in second. Accies drop to seventh with 23 points, but still have a game in hand, while Currie climb the points ladder to 14, but remain in 10th place.

In the National League there was a bit of shock-horror as Boroughmuir suffered their second defeat in a row, losing out 31-20 away to Dundee HS. Watsonians and Stewarts-Melville, however, are making hay while the ‘Muirs lose, by coming up trumps. Watsonians had a try bonus point win in Biggar, defeating the Borders’ side 39-18, while in Peebles, Stew-Mel had a 16-9 win over the home side.

In the National League table, Boroughmuir are still ahead, but the gap has been cut to eight points, with Watsonians and Stew-Mel, who are both on 42, in second and third places.

(Photo – library image of Watsonians v Biggar at Myreside)

Web – http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography

International Football

Gordon Strachan’s Scotland drew 0-0 with the United States of America at Hampden. Former Hibs players Scott Brown, Steven Whittaker and Steven Fletcher started the game and former Hearts’ full back Lee Wallace came on as a substitute.

SPFL Football

No league football this weekend however there were plenty of talking points off the field. Terry Butcher was appointed manager of Hibs with Maurice Malpas as his assistant.

Across the city, former Hearts and Scotland star Donald Ford and Alex Mackie have resigned from the Foundation of Hearts.

Image Printers Cup

Goals from Alan Brown and Keith McLeod secured Spartans place in the 3rd Round of the Image Printers Cup after knocking out holders Gretna at Ainslie Park on Saturday.

Before kick-off, both sets of players, mascots and supporters respectfully observed a minute silence for Darren King, brother of former Spartans Midfielder Alex King, who sadly passed away earlier this week.

After a goalless first half, Spartans took the lead with ten minutes remaining when Alan Brown’s volley flew past Wright in the Gretna goal then Keith McLeod grabbed his 256th goal in his 376th appearance in the Spartans colours in injury time to secure the win.

After the game Spartans Manager Dougie Samuel told the club website “The combination of difficult conditions and Gretna playing at the top of their game made it one of our toughest games of the season so far.

“I thought Scott Bennett fully deserved his MOM award which is an indication of how difficult it was today. However, we finished the game strongly and found a way to win.  In the last 20 minutes we passed and kept the ball better which was key.”

East of Scotland League

Central Taxis Premier Division

Edinburgh University 0-0 Spartans

Central Taxis First Division

Duns 1-5 Ormiston

Peebles Rovers 1-2 Hibernian

After the game, Academy Director James McDonaugh told the club website: “It was a good win. I felt the players managed the game very well against difficult opponents on a difficult pitch.

“Jay Doyle did very well to get his goal and the second was a great goal, Ryan Baptie put in a great cross and Lewis Allan headed it into the bottom corner.

“This put us two goals up at half time and we nearly got the clean sheet we were after.

“But, once again, bad defending in injury time allowed Peebles to pull one back.

“Overall I am happy for the lads to have got all three points.”

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup first round

Easthouses Lily MW 4-6 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale (AET)

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup second round

Heriot-Watt University 1-1 Leith Athletic (Extra time now being played)

Whitehill Welfare 6-0 Civil Service Strollers

Burntisland Shipyard 1-2 Preston Athletic

Tynecastle 2-1 University of Stirling

Spartans 0-0 Gretna (3:00pm kick-off)

Women’s Football

Commiserations go to Hibernian Ladies who lost to a last minute goal in the Scottish Cup Final against strong favourites Glasgow City.

Ice Hockey by John Preece

At Murrayfield rink, Edinburgh Capitals had a 5-3 win over EIHL leaders, Belfast Giants. The Caps came back twice to square the game before taking a 4-3 lead in the third period, which they extended to 5-3 by the end of the match. Both teams are still in the same league positions with Belfast at the top and the Edinburgh side at the foot. But having beaten two of the favoured teams in the league on successive weekends, there is still time for them to do a bit of climbing.

Basketball

Glasgow Storm   71-92   Glasgow Rocks SM

City of Edinburgh Kings SM   63-39   Boroughmuir Blaze SM

St Mirren West College Scotland SM   66-50   Edinburgh University SM

Clark Eriksson Fury SM   82-48   Perth Phoenix Senior Men  (Cup quarter final)

Lady Rocks SW   78-52   Tayside Musketeers SW

St Mirren West College Scotland SW   43-62   City of Edinburgh Kool Kats SW

Volleyball

Division One Men

City of Glasgow Ragazzi 3 0 Dundee 25 – 17 25 – 17 25 – 14

City of Edinburgh 3 0 Glasgow Mets 26 – 24 25 – 19 25 – 23

Beacon Fire 1 3 South Ayrshire  22 – 25 22 – 25 25 – 23 15 – 25

Bon Accord 1 3 Edinburgh Jets 25 – 19 20 – 25 23 – 25 24 – 26

Division One Women

Aberdonia 3 0 Edinburgh Jets II 25 – 21 25 – 16 25 – 21

City of Edinburgh  3 0 Edinburgh Jets 25 – 9 25 – 17 25 – 20

North Lanarkshire 0 3 QTS Troon Team Ayrshire 11 – 25 12 – 25 13 – 25

Su Ragazzi 3 0 QTS Kyle TA 25 – 15 25 – 19 25 – 17

Division Two East Men

Su Ragazzi II 3 1 Beacon Flame 25 – 10 24 – 26 25 – 11 25 – 7

City of Edinburgh II 3 1 NUVOC 20 – 25 25 – 21 25 – 20 25 – 16

Bellshill Cardinals 3 0 Edinburgh Jets II 25 – 22 25 – 12 25 – 13

Division Two Women

Su Ragazzi II 3 0 Dundee 25 – 17 25 – 15 25 – 16

Glasgow International 3 1 NUVOC 18 – 25 25 – 11 25 – 20 25 – 16