The Edinburgh Reporter’s Weekly Sports Roundup

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Rugby by John Preece

Edinburgh travelled to Newport in Wales where they saw off the threat from the Welsh side in a match where the lead changed hands several times. 6-0 down after the first quarter, Jack Cuthbert pulled three back for the visitors before Willem Nel followed up fine back play with his fourth try of the season. Cuthbert put the kick over to take a 10-6 lead, but Jason Tovey scored another penalty for the home side to go into the break 10-9.

Tovey retook the lead for the home side soon after the break, but a 30 metre run in from Matt Scott, which Cuthbert again converted, gave Edinburgh back the lead 17-10. Another penalty from Cuthbert pulled out another three points, which he followed up with another just before the 70-minute mark to bring the score to 23-10. The Dragons then took full advantage of a yellow for Izak van der Westhuizen to score their only try and take the home side to within four points of Edinburgh, but they couldn’t manage to score any further and the match finished 23-19 to Edinburgh.

The win takes Edinburgh to eighth in the table with 34 points – the same as seventh placed Connacht, but with a game in hand. Their next match is against Cardiff Blues on the 11th march at Meggetland where they beat the Ospreys a few weeks ago.

In the final club match of the season, the Premiership play-off, Edinburgh Accies maintained the status quo by beating Stewarts-Melville 23-13 at Lasswade Rugby Club’s Hawthornden ground on Saturday. In spite of challenging strongly at times, Accies never looked to be under any huge pressure and a three to one try count told the story in the end. It was a very good match for the neutral to watch, full of running rugby, but in the end, the superior experience of Accies told over their North Edinburgh neighbours.

Next club event for The Reporter is the Melrose Sevens on 12th March where all six of Edinburgh’s top teams will be fielding sides. This is a fantastic tournament, won last year by Saracens. They beat Clermont Auvergne in the final and Clermont return this year for another go at the title. No Saracens, but Glasgow Warriors fill the gap for their first appearance at The Greenyards. The other two guest teams are the USA Tigers and Trinidad and Tobago – otherwise known as ‘The Calypso Warriors’ – and all four are drawn in Round 2, where they will play the winners from four of the eight matches in Round 1.

This will be followed up a week later with the RBS Finals where Heriots will play Glasgow Hawks in the Cup final and Murrayfield Wanderers will play Melrose in the women’s Sarah Beannie Cup Final.

SPFL Football

Hearts’ relegation from the Scottish Premiership was finally confirmed on Saturday despite a 4-2 victory against Partick Thistle at Firhill.

Gary Locke’s youngsters who needed to win and St Mirren to lose to Motherwell fell behind to Kris Doolan’s strike.

Dale Carrick levelled from close range then Billy King fired the Gorgie side ahead just after the break.

Ryan Stevenson’s double preceded Jordan McMillan’s consolation for the Jags but with the Hearts’ fans celebrating, the news came through that St Mirren had scored two late goals to beat ‘Well.

The gap between Hearts who started the season with a 15-point deduction and Partick Thistle now stands at 17 points with only five matches to play.

A meeting of Hearts’ creditors today will have a major bearing on whether the club can avoid liquidation.

Hibs remain in danger of being dragged into the relegation dogfight remain in 7th place, only four points in front of Thistle having played a game less.

Terry Butcher’s men face Aberdeen at Easter Road tonight.

Scottish Sun Lowland League

Gala Fairydean Rovers 0-3 Spartans

Three goals in three first half minutes just before the half time break earned Spartans another valuable three points in the quest for the Lowland League title.

Prolific striker Keith McLeod gave the Ainslie Park outfit the lead in the 42nd minute then Kevin Motion added a second a minute later. Motion made it 3-0 just before the half time whistle.

Both teams had chances to score in the second period, but the Borders side were unable to get back into the game.

The result pleased goal scorer McLeod who told the club website: It’s a lot easier to make a difference on the pitch than sitting in the stand.”  McLeod, scoring his 30th goal of the season, added, “I’m happy to be back playing and hopefully that can continue and no more daft red cards!

”We’ve got another tough league game next week at Whitehill and the boys are desperate to reverse the recent Cup Final result and maybe if we keep 11 on the pitch, we’ll have a good chance.”

Man of the Match: Kevin Motion

Elsewhere

Whitehill Welfare 3-1 Preston Athletic

Central Taxis East of Scotland League, Premier Division

Edinburgh University 1-2 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

Central Taxis East of Scotland League Cup, Preliminary Round

Tynecastle 1-2 Leith Athletic

Stirling University EOS P-P Kelso United

Craigroyston 3-2 Coldstream

Berwick Rangers EOS P-P Hawick Royal Albert

King Cup, Second Round

Easthouses Lily P-P Peebles Rovers

Selkirk P-P University of Stirling

Women’s Football

FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers

Scotland 2-0 Poland

Fir Park, Motherwell

Scotland maintained their 100% record in qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada with a 2-0 victory over Poland at Fir Park.

Second-half goals from Lisa Evans and Leanne Crichton secured the three points for Anna Signeul’s side in a game in which Scotland’s persistence, as well as skill and composure, paid dividends.

The result capped off an excellent day for the Scotland women’s national teams, with the under-19s winning their opening UEFA European Championship Elite Round match 5-1 against Iceland in Croatia thanks to goals from Lucy Graham (2), Zoe Ness, Abbi Grant and captain Caroline Weir.

Speedway

Friday 4 April at Armadale;

Scotwaste Monarchs 61-31 Berwick Bandits

DDS Monarch of the Match though was Max Fricke.

Saturday 5th April at Shielfield Park Berwick

Berwick Bandits 43-46 Scotwaste Monarchs

Basketball

Scottish Cup Semi-Finals   Senior Men

City of Edinburgh Kings SM   68-73   St Mirren West College Scotland SM

Clark Eriksson Fury SM   64-72   Glasgow University SM

Scottish Cup Final Senior Men

Glasgow University SM  90-79 St Mirren West College Scotland SM

Scottish Cup Semi-Finals   Senior Women

Lady Rocks SW   69-55   St Mirren West College Scotland SW

City of Edinburgh Kool Kats SW   82-47   Polonia Phoenix SW

Scottish Cup Final Senior Women  

City of Edinburgh Kool Kats SW   64-67   Lady Rocks SW

Volleyball  

Men’s Division 1 Final 4

Edinburgh Jets 3-1 City of Glasgow Ragazzi

City of Edinburgh 2-3 Glasgow Mets

Women’s Division 1 Final 4

Edinburgh Jets 3-0 QTS Troon Team Ayrshire

City of Edinburgh  3-2 Su Ragazzi

Men’s Division 2 Final 4

Su Ragazzi II 3-0 Lenzie

City of Edinburgh II 2-3 Glasgow Mets II

Women’s Division 2 Final 4

QTS Kyle TA 3-1 Dundee

NUVOC 3-2 Glasgow International

Photo by John Preece

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