Rugby by John Preece
All three of Scotland’s International matches ended in defeat to their corresponding French sides at the weekend.
The U20 were, perhaps the most surprising result with a narrow defeat to France in spite of a late comeback in the second half, outscoring the visitors by two tries to one and generally puting the French side under a great deal of pressure at the scrum. But, once again, the theme of the night was the error and penalty count.
(Full match report in the Sports section)
Second up was the Senior match and this was the most disappointing of the three. Dominating the scrum, the Scots had France on the back foot for long periods of the match, but, again, the penalty count against them was crippling, rounded off by Weir’s long intercepted pass, five metres out form the French line. A final penalty, two minutes from time when Scotland was ahead 17-16, gave the visitors the chance to win the match. Job done. 19-17 France.
(Full match report in the Sports section)
The most expected result of the weekend was the Women’s defeat to a much stronger French side – which beat England 18-6 earlier in the tournament – who ran riot and put 69 points without reply on to a battling, but ultimately, much weaker Scottish team.
(Full match report in the Sports section)
With no club rugby or ice hockey this weekend a wee look forward to next week sees Watsonians playing Stewarts-Melville at home for the right to a play-off place in the National League. A win for ‘Sonians, and lack of a bonus point for the Inverleith side, will see them through on points difference. Anything else will result in Stew-Mel playing off with the second bottom side in the Premiership – currently Hawick – for a place at the top table.
Football
An injury hit Hibs team took on Motherwell at a windy Easter Road on Saturday and after 30 minutes found themselves two goals down thanks to former Jambo John Sutton and Lionel Ainsworth. Jordon Forster kept up his goal scoring form to pull one back just before the break then Michael Nelson equalised with a strong header from a Paul Cairney corner.
Substitute Paul Heffernan looked to have secured the three points however Sutton equalised in time added on.
Hearts travelled to Rugby Park hoping for a win over Kilmarnock to keep their slim hopes of avoiding relegation alive but soon found themselves behind through an own goal from Danny Wilson. Dale Carrick equalised before Kris Boyd restored Killie’s lead just after the break.
Boyd made it 3-1 before Sam Nicholson pulled one back but Michael Gardyne secured the three points for the Ayrshire team.
Scottish Sun Lowland League
University of Stirling P Edinburgh City
Scottish Sun Lowland League Cup, Groupstage, Section A
Selkirk 5-1 Gala Fairydean Rovers
Vale of Leithen 2-3 Preston Athletic
Scottish Sun Lowland League Cup, Groupstage, Section B
Spartans hopes of securing a semi-final spot in the Lowland League Cup disappeared after losing 1-3 at Whitehill Welfare.
The Spartans players were wearing black armbands as they took to the heavy Ferguson Park surface and both teams and the match officials lined-up ahead of kick-off to respectfully observe a minute silence for Spartans Honorary President Ronnie Swan who sadly passed away earlier this week.
Welfare took the lead in the 28th minute through Sproule than added a second from Macintosh five minutes after the break.
Danny Noon’s wind assisted long range effort made it 3-0 before Mark Whatley a consolation goal with seven minutes left as Spartans bowed out of the League Cup.
Scottish Sun Lowland League Cup, Groupstage, Section C
Dalbeattie Star 1-1 East Kilbride
Threave Rovers 3-3 Gretna 2008
Central Taxis East of Scotland Premier Division
Heriot-Watt University P-P Leith Athletic
Spartans EOS 0-0 Craigroyston
Central Taxis East of Scotland First Division
Easthouses Lily 2-0 Burntisland Shipyard
Hawick Royal Albert 3-3 Duns
Kelso United 3-2 Hibernian EOS
Ormiston 1-3 Peebles Rovers
East of Scotland Qualifying League, Section A
Lothian Thistle HV 2-0 Civil Service Strollers
Tynecastle P-P Eyemouth United
East of Scotland Qualifying League, Section B
Stirling University EOS 1-2 Edinburgh University (venue changed to Peffermill, Edinburgh due to waterlogged pitch at Gannochy Sports Centre)
East of Scotland Qualifying League, Section D
Coldstream 0-3 Berwick Rangers EOS
Speedway courtesy of Monarchs website
With the opening of the season less than three weeks away the Scotwaste Monarchs have put out a call for additional sponsorship and advertising for the forthcoming season.
Mike Hunter, the club director who co-ordinates this part of the Club’s operation said, “We have had a good response from last year’s advertisers and sponsors and I hope that we are going to add one or two significant new advertisers for this season. However, we always have space for more, in the programme, on advertising displays throughout the stadium and in our hospitality suites.”
One new addition to our advertising possibilities is a banner on our air fence. We hope to have the fence completely covered with banners this season and at the moment slightly more than 50% will carry advertising so there is still plenty of room for more.
There are also dates available within our hospitality areas for the season. It is interesting to note that in our survey conducted earlier in the winter 40% of those who had not been to our hospitality said that they did not think it was good value for money but 100% of those who had tried hospitality felt that it was excellent value for money and enhanced their enjoyment of the night.
Space within our match magazine is also available in all shapes and size for your company’s advert.
If you are interested in any form of advertising or sponsorship please contact the Club immediately.
Judo
Edinburgh’s Sally Conway remains at number nine in the latest world rankings at Under-70kg despite winning a silver medal at last month’s Dusseldorf Grand Prix.
Basketball
Troon Tornadoes SM 64-52 Glasgow Storm
Glasgow University SM 101-69 Stirling Knights SM
St Mirren West College Scotland SM 112-60 Dunfermline Reign SM
City of Edinburgh Kings SM 81-69 Glasgow Rocks SM
City of Edinburgh Kool Kats SW 75-56 Lady Rocks SW
Volleyball
Division One Men
City of Edinburgh 3 0 Bon Accord 25 – 14 25 – 23 27 – 25
City of Glasgow Ragazzi 3 0 Beacon Fire 25 – 19 25 – 14 25 – 15
Dundee 1 3 South Ayrshire 18 – 25 25 – 20 21 – 25 25 – 27
Glasgow Mets 3 1 Edinburgh Jets 22 – 25 25 – 17 25 – 15 25 – 23
Division One Women
QTS Kyle TA 1 3 North Lanarkshire 15 – 25 25 – 22 15 – 25 20 – 25
City of Edinburgh 3 0 Aberdonia 25 – 14 25 – 11 25 – 9
QTS Troon Team Ayrshire 2 3 Edinburgh Jets 27 – 25 21 – 25 23 – 25 26 – 24 12 – 15
Su Ragazzi 3 0 Edinburgh Jets II 25 – 9 25 – 12 25 – 12
Division Two East Men
Edinburgh Jets II 3 0 NUVOC 25 – 20 25 – 17 25 – 21
City of Edinburgh II 3 0 Beacon Flame 25 – 19 25 – 15 25 – 12
Su Ragazzi II 3 0 Bellshill Cardinals 25 – 19 25 – 21 25 – 23
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.
