Rugby by John Preece
Edinburgh’s hopes of European rugby after this weekend came to a shuddering halt with a 38-6 defeat to Munster at Thomond Park. Greg Laidlaw kept Edinburgh in touch with two first half penalties in answer to Munster’s two, fairly easily taken, tries. Edinburgh held out until half time, suffering from Cornel Du Preez being yellow carded right on the half time whistle, but had no answer to Munster’s second half performance. Four second half tries left the visitors with no hope of qualifying for the Amlin Challenge Cup as nothing other than a win would have been required to stay in with a chance. With Gloucester beating Perpignan, even that chance has slipped away. It was, admittedly, a well under par performance by Edinburgh, but an on-form Munster are a World beating side at the best of times.
Football
Two second half goals from James Collins were not enough to secure a share of the points for Hibs against St Mirren at Easter Road on Saturday. The Buddies took the lead through Paul McGowan in the fourth minute then added two more before half time from Adam Campbell and Steven Thompson.
Hearts travelled to Perth and went two goals down thanks to Steve May before Dale Carrick pulled one back. May completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before two late goals from Sam Nicholson and Danny Wilson levelled the scoring.
Match reports are available on the main site.
Lowland League
Spartans recorded a valuable 2-1 away victory against Eddie May’s Stirling University at Forthbank on Saturday, thanks to a late Keith McLeod wonder strike.
After a goalless first half, the visitors took the lead in the 56th minute thanks to Danny O’Donnell, but the students equalised 14 minutes later through Jack Nixon.
With five minutes remaining, McLeod unleashed an unstoppable drive past the Stirling keeper at his near post to the delight of the travelling support.
After the game, Spartans’ manager Dougie Samuel told the club website: “We’re absolutely delighted to come away from here with 3 points. Stirling Uni are a good side and it took a top drawer save right at the death from Scott Bennett to prevent them from grabbing a late equaliser.
“Over the piece, I reckon it would have been value for money for the neutral as in the second half, the game opened up and a bit stretched as both teams were going for it.”
Elsewhere
Dalbeattie Star P Gretna 2008
Threave Rovers P East Kilbride
Scottish Sun Lowland League Cup, Groupstage, Section A
Gala Fairydean Rovers 0-2 Vale of Leithen
Selkirk 3-4 Preston Athletic
Scottish Sun Lowland League Cup, Groupstage, Section B
Whitehill Welfare 2-0 Edinburgh City
Central Taxis East of Scotland League
Central Taxis Premier Division
Civil Service Strollers 2-4 Tynecastle
Heriot Watt University P-P Coldstream
Lothian Thistle P-P Stirling University
Leith Athletic 0-0 Craigroyston
Central Taxis First Division
Easthouses Lily 6-2 Ormiston
Kelso 1-5 Duns
Peebles Rovers 0-0 Eyemouth United
Hawick Royal Albert P-P Burntisland Shipyard
Qualifying League Section D
Spartans EOS 7-3 Berwick Rangers Reserves
Ice Hockey by John Preece
In spite of scoring first – with only a few seconds of the first period left – the Edinburgh Capitals lost out to fellow strugglers, Fife Flyers, 5-2 in Kirkcaldy. An early goal in the second pulled the Flyers level before they went into the lead half way through the period. Another goal for the home side gave them a clear lead before Edinburgh pulled one back, only for Fife to score again after only six seconds. A fifth gaols late on secured the win for the Flyers to take them three points clear of the Capitals at the foot of the table.
To compound an already bad weekend for Edinburgh’s sporting teams – see above, plus Hibs lost and Hearts drew – the Capitals lost six first period goals to Belfast’s Giants at Murrayfield on Sunday. They did fit one of their own in around the goal-fest to finish the period 6-1. They also scored the only goal of the second period, but really, weren’t even at the races. Belfast finished of the match with a coup-de-gras seventh goal in the third to take the match 7-2 and to continue current Edinburgh’s run of defeats in the EIHL.
Speedway
Edinburgh Monarchs have published this season’s fixture list.
MARCH
Fri 28 Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers Air Fence Challenge 7:30pm
Sun 30 Glasgow Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs Air Fence Challenge 3:00pm
APRIL
Fri 04 Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits League Cup 7:30pm
Sat 05 Berwick Bandits v Edinburgh Monarchs League Cup 7:00pm
Fri 11 Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets League Cup 7:30pm
Sat 12 Workington Comets v Edinburgh Monarchs League Cup 7:00pm
Fri 18 Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers League Cup 7:30pm
Sun 20 Glasgow Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs League Cup 3:00pm
Fri 25 Edinburgh Monarchs v Sheffield Tigers Premier League 7:30pm
MAY
Thu 01 Ipswich Witches v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:30pm
Fri 02 Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions Premier League 7:30pm
Mon 05 Scunthorpe Scorpions v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League TBC
Tue 06 Peterborough Panthers v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:30pm
Fri 09 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed To Be Confirmed 7:30pm
Sat 10 Plymouth Devils v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:15pm
Fri 16 Edinburgh Monarchs v Ipswich Witches Premier League 7:30pm
Fri 23 Edinburgh Monarchs v Newcastle Diamonds Premier League 7:30pm
Sun 25 Glasgow Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 3:00pm
Fri 30 Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers Premier League 7:30pm
JUNE
Sun 01 Newcastle Diamonds v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 6:30pm
Fri 06 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed Premier League Knockout Cup 7:30pm
Fri 13 Edinburgh Monarchs v Rye House Rockets Premier League 7:30pm
Sat 14 Workington Comets v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:00pm
Fri 20 Edinburgh Monarchs v Plymouth Devils Premier League 7:30pm
Fri 27 Edinburgh Monarchs v Peterborough Panthers Premier League 7:30pm
JULY
Thu 03 Redcar Bears v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:30pm
Fri 04 Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears Premier League 7:30pm
Sun 06 Glasgow Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 3:00pm
Fri 18 Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets Premier League 7:30pm
Sat 19 Berwick Bandits v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:00pm
Fri 25 Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits Premier League 7:30pm
AUGUST
Fri 01 Scottish Open Individual 7:15pm
Sun 03 Newcastle Diamonds v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 6:30pm
Fri 08 Edinburgh Monarchs v Newcastle Diamonds Premier League 7:30pm
Wed 13 Somerset Rebels v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:30pm
Thu 14 Sheffield Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:45pm
Fri 15 Edinburgh Monarchs v Somerset Rebels Premier League 7:30pm
Fri 22 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed To Be Confirmed 7:30pm
Fri 29 Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers Premier League 7:30pm
SEPTEMBER
Fri 05 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed To Be Confirmed 7:30pm
Sat 06 Rye House Rockets v Edinburgh Monarchs Premier League 7:00pm
Fri 12 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed Premier Playoff 7:30pm
Fri 19 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed Premier Playoff 7:30pm
Fri 26 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed To Be Confirmed 7:30pm
OCTOBER
Fri 03 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed Premier League Championship Final 7:30pm
Fri 10 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed Premier League Championship Final 7:30pm
Fri 17 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed To Be Confirmed 7:30pm
Fri 24 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed To Be Confirmed 7:30pm
Fri 31 Edinburgh Monarchs v To Be Confirmed To Be Confirmed 7:30pm
Basketball
Dunfermline Reign SM 50-106 Clark Eriksson Fury SM
St Mirren West College Scotland SM 76-68 City of Edinburgh Kings SM
Glasgow Storm 66-69 Boroughmuir Blaze SM
Glasgow Rocks SM 89-91 Glasgow University SM
Stirling Knights SM 73-82 Troon Tornadoes SM
Polonia Phoenix SW 64-63 Tayside Musketeers SW
Lady Rocks SW 56-64 City of Edinburgh Kool Kats SW
St Mirren West College Scotland SW 49-33 Clark Eriksson Fury SW
Volleyball
Division One Men
City of Edinburgh 3 0 Beacon Fire 25 – 21 25 – 9 25 – 13
City of Glasgow Ragazzi 3 0 Bon Accord 25 – 19 25 – 22 25 – 13
Edinburgh Jets 3 0 Dundee 25 – 10 25 – 13 25 – 22
Glasgow Mets 3 1 South Ayrshire 25 – 20 23 – 25 25 – 16 25 – 14
Division One Women
Edinburgh Jets II 0 3 QTS Troon Team Ayrshire 5 – 25 12 – 25 19 – 25
Edinburgh Jets 3 1 Aberdonia 25 – 10 25 – 12 21 – 25 25 – 9
City of Edinburgh 3 0 QTS Kyle TA 25 – 13 25 – 12 25 – 9
Su Ragazzi 3 0 North Lanarkshire 25 – 13 25 – 14 25 – 18
Division Two Men East
Su Ragazzi II 3 0 Beacon Flame 25 – 16 25 – 14 25 – 7
City of Edinburgh II 3 1 Edinburgh Jets II 25 – 13 20 – 25 25 – 10 25 – 23
NUVOC 3 2 Bellshill Cardinals 25 – 20 22 – 25 27 – 25 13 – 25 15 – 13
Division Two Women
South Ayrshire 0 3 Glasgow International 16 – 25 20 – 25 22 – 25
Su Ragazzi II 3 1 Dundee 25 – 16 24 – 26 25 – 14 25 – 10
Photos by John Preece
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography
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.
