Sad news from Murrayfield on Saturday. A 60-year-old supporter, who was watching the Scotland v England match with a group of friends, took ill. Paramedics were quickly on the scene and the supporter was transferred by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead.
Scottish Rugby Union President Donald Macleod said: “We are extremely saddened to hear of the death of a supporter who attended today’s Calcutta Cup match.
“We extend our deepest sympathy to the gentleman’s family and friends and we are standing-by to support in any way we can.”
RFU President Bob Reeves said: “The rugby family has lost one of its members and on behalf of all the travelling England fans and the RFU we extend our condolences to the gentleman’s relations and all those who knew him.”
The Edinburgh Reporter also sends out condolences to the man’s friends and family.
Rugby by John Preece
There was only one club match in the top divisions this weekend, that between Boroughmuir and Selkirk. Boroughmuir had to win to ensure that they guaranteed a place in the Premiership next season, regardless of the remaining results. And this they did, but with a slightly less comfortable margin than might have been predicted at the mid- season point when they were flying. They won 20-17 at Meggetland which gives then m an unassailable lead at the top with two games left. Watsonians would need to win their last three games with a bonus point to draw level, but that would be a big ask for the Myreside team.
Edinburgh Rugby were scheduled to play at Rodney Parade against Newport-Gwent Dragons, but that match was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
On the international scene, England delivered a whitewash against all three Scottish sides over the three days. The outcomes of the U20 and Senior matches can be mulled over in the main Sports section and really don’t bear repeating to any great degree here. So, in the best traditions, if you don’t want to know the details, look away now….
U20’s were beaten 48-15 in, despite the score, an unexpectedly decent match in Gala and the Senior team should have been slaughtered by England at Murrayfield, but were let off the hook to the tune of 20-0.
The women were playing their counterparts in Aberdeen – England fielding a vastly different team, with 13 changes, to the one that lost in France – on Sunday. The match went the way of England, as expected, with a fairly comprehensive victory over the Scottish women. 29-0 ahead at half time, they were not especially worried by the Scots, who a missed penalty chance in the 22, and they went on to take the match 63-0.
This leaves all three teams at the foot of their respective tables with a grand total of zero points between them after six matches. Oh, well….
Football
Hibs dismal Scottish Cup record continues for yet another season following a surprise 3-2 home defeat to Championship side Raith Rovers.
The Kirkcaldy team arrived at Easter Road having lost their previous five games without scoring a goal, but that statistic changed in the 6th minute thanks to a goal from Kevin Moon. Sam Stanton equalised eight minutes later with his first goal for the club. Dougie Hill restored Rovers’ lead before Michael Nelson made it 2-2 just before half time.
Grant Anderson grabbed what turned out to be the winner in the 62nd minute.
Afterwards Terry Butcher said: “I’m bitterly disappointed because we didn’t deserve anything from out performance today, so fair play to Raith Rovers and I want to congratulate them for their display. They rubbished us at the back, they won second balls, they passed it well and stopped us from gaining any sort of momentum.
“I just can’t believe we’ve turned in a display like that. We worked so hard through the week to try and win the game. It’s unbelievable.
“We showed a bit of character to get back twice and you’re thinking let us score the next one and we’ll see if they can come back, but second half they seemed to get a grip. We couldn’t get anything going; we couldn’t get the wide players on the ball.
“I felt sorry for Duncan Watmore and Sam Stanton. I thought those two were great but the rest were very poor.
“We conceded three unbelievably poor goals which were disasters from our point of view. There’s a lot of work to be done so what team I put out next week is anybody’s guess because every position is up for grabs and I mean up for grabs.
“With the history that Hibs has with the Scottish Cup, we’ve let the fans down badly today.”
Hearts had a free weekend having been knocked out of the competition by Celtic.
The Scottish Sun Lowland Football League.
Keith McLeod’s sensational run of scoring in 14 consecutive games came to an end yesterday following Spartans’ 0-0 draw at home to East Kilbride. Keith’s run of 14 is now a joint British record with Evelyn Morrison who achieve the same number of consecutive games with Falkirk during their 1928/29 season.
After yesterday’s match, Keith was also awarded with the Colin Campbell player of the month award for January. It means Keith wins the award for the third time in a row, and remains the only player to have ever been awarded it!
Speaking after the game, Keith told the club website: “I’m delighted to have picked up the player of the month award again. There are a lot of quality players in this division so have won this three times, really is an honour. I’m actually surprised to have won it again, perhaps I’ve been aided by the fact that at times in January we were one of the only teams to be playing every week!”
On the subject of his consecutive run coming to an end, Keith added: “I’m really proud that I’ve been able to equal an 85 year record and obviously it would have been nice to have kept it going, however my number one goal is for us to lift the Lowland League and to do that we need to win every game. It’s disappointing to drop two points today, however it could still be a vital point gained come the end of the season. A few people have asked if the record run coming to an end means that I’ve got that ‘monkey off my back’ however the only pressure I’ve ever felt under is to do what I can for the team so we can continue winning.”
Keith has had a sensational season so far, scoring 23 goals this season. Since joining Spartans from Civil Service Strollers in 2002, Keith has scored an incredible 267 goals in 385 appearances.
Spartans 0-0 East Kilbride
Edinburgh City 2-1 Dalbeattie Star
Gala Fairydean Rovers 1-4 University of Stirling
Gretna 2008 0-3 Threave Rovers
Preston Athletic 3-1 Selkirk
Vale of Leithen P Whitehill Welfare
Central Taxis East of Scotland League First Division
Burntisland Shipyard 1-0 Ormiston
Qualifying League Group A
Eyemouth United 1-1 Civil Service Strollers
Tynecastle 4-1 Kelso United
Qualifying League Group B
Edinburgh University 2-0 Hawick Royal Albert
Stirling University P-P Duns
Qualifying League Group C
Craigroyston 1-2 Hibernian EOS
Heriot-Watt University 2-2 Leith Athletic
Qualifying League Group D
Coldstream 4-2 Easthouses Lily MW
Spartans EOS 5-0 Peebles Rovers
Women’s Football
Hibs Ladies beat Hearts Ladies 8-2 in a pre-season friendly at Peffermill with the goals coming from Lizzie Arnott (3), Susan Fairlie, Kirstie Smith, Ellis Jenkins, Rachael Walkingshaw and Katey Turner.
Ice Hockey by John Preece
With only one game this weekend, against second place Braehead Clan, the Edinburgh Capitals could have a chance to draw breath and see if they could get their act together to, at least, finish the season on a high. This chance occurred on Sunday night at Murrayfield. Braehead finished the first period 2-0 ahead, but were not as dominant as their league position would have suggested. To emphasise their lack of dominance, Edinburgh hit back with three second period goals to take the lead going into the third. As full time drew near, a goalless third period hope was dashed as the Clan scored with seconds to go, while a man down, as the Capitals’ defender and ‘keeper had a bit of brain fade at the goal area and the puck was pounced on and stuck in the back of the net by a grateful attacker. A goalless overtime period meant the game would go to a penalty shoot-out, which the Clan took 2-1 to leave with the extra point.
Basketball
Dunfermline Reign SM 76-132 St Mirren West College Scotland SM
Boroughmuir Blaze SM 64-78 Clark Eriksson Fury SM
Glasgow Storm 74-82 Troon Tornadoes SM
Glasgow Rocks SM 37-66 City of Edinburgh Kings SM
Stirling Knights SM 69-84 Glasgow University SM
Clark Eriksson Fury SW 64-78 City of Edinburgh Kool Kats SW
Volleyball
Division One Men
Bon Accord 3 0 Dundee 25 – 22 25 – 21 25 – 14
City of Edinburgh 3 1 City of Glasgow Ragazzi 25 – 16 25 – 20 20 – 25 25 – 23
Edinburgh Jets 3 0 South Ayrshire 25 – 10 25 – 18 25 – 21
Beacon Fire 0 3 Glasgow Mets 9 – 25 26 – 28 15 – 25
Division One Women
Edinburgh Jets 3 0 QTS Kyle TA 25 – 10 25 – 16 25 – 14
Aberdonia 1 3 QTS Troon Team Ayrshire 8 – 25 26 – 24 19 – 25 12 – 25
City of Edinburgh 3 0 Su Ragazzi 25 – 14 25 – 22 26 – 24
North Lanarkshire 3 0 Edinburgh Jets II 25 – 9 25 – 20 25 – 16
Division Two East Men
City of Edinburgh II 3 1 NUVOC 25 – 12 24 – 26 25 – 22 25 – 10
Beacon Flame 0 3 Su Ragazzi II 4 – 25 14 – 25 8 – 25
Bellshill Cardinals 3 0 Edinburgh Jets II 25 – 11 25 – 13 25 – 21
Division Two Women
South Ayrshire 0 3 Su Ragazzi II 2 – 25 6 – 25 8 – 25
Glasgow International 2 3 Dundee 25 – 20 25 – 23 25 – 27 22 – 25 9 – 15
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.
