Shinty: Wins for Newtonmore, Lovat and Kinlochshiel
Last updated on .From the section Scotland
An intriguing day of shinty saw three different teams move to the top of the Orion Premiership in the space of just two-and-a-half hours. However, the day also ended as it began with the initiative resting with champions Newtonmore.
The noon throw up, which was switched from Balmacara to Drumnadrochit, saw Kinlochshiel go top with a 2-1 away win over Glenurquhart. But they were then edged off on goal difference an hour later by Lovat, who had a goalless draw with Bute at Kiltarlity.
The status quo was then restored by Newtonmore's 6-2 success in their game at Inveraray which started at 1430 GMT.
Top scorer Finlay MacRae put Shiel ahead in the first half and, although Glenurquhart looked the stronger team in the second, it went to 2-0 when Fraser MacVicar raised his stick to prod home an airborne corner. Lewis MacLennan pulled one back for Glen to ensure a cliffhanger of a finish but the Wester Ross side held on.
Newtonmore's chances of going back top took an early setback when Russell McKinlay put Inveraray ahead but 'More soon took charge when Danny MacRae scored two in each half and Glen MacKintosh netted once on either side of the interval. Stewart Robertson briefly brought it back to 3-2.
Kingussie's nightmare start continued and a 5-2 defeat by Kyles in a game moved to Glendaruel means that the team that carried so much before it so recently now only has two points from four outings. Thomas Whyte scored twice for Kyles, who also had contributions from Roddy MacDonald, Ewan Campbell and Dunky Kerr while Fraser Munro got both Kingussie consolations.
Fort William ran riot at home to First Division Caberfeidh to the tune of 8-1 in the first round of the Cooperative MacTavish Cup, where Gary Innes got four in the first half including a penalty.
Oban Camanachd conceded their first goals but not their first points in Marine Harvest South Division One with a 4-2 home win over Glasgow Mid Argyll, who dropped to third as a result. Johnny Will and Matt Rippon got two each for Camanachd.
Beauly maintained their lead and unbeaten record in North Division One when they beat local rivals Strathglass at home by the odd goal in nine.
