THREE WEEKS into the new Arnold Clark Premiership season and already those of us who forecast Ayr and Heriot's would gallop off into the sunset are looking pretty smug.
Ayr, even with several first-picks left on the touchline, to entertain the “Bonnie Lassies” on “Ladies Day” at Millbrae, still stuck more than 80 points on a weakened Musselburgh, while down at Mansfield Park, Heriot's won the fight for the Norman Suddon Shield with a fairly comfortable win over Hawick. These results leave the Big Two out on their own at the top of the table.
But, credit to the somewhat overlooked Edinburgh Academical and Selkirk who are leading the chase; with a word of praise too, to Watsonians, who took possession of the Bill McLaren Shield via their excellent win at Melrose.
IN NATIONAL 1, they are also down to just two unbeaten teams, Stirling County, , lead the way - on the back of their thumping “Friday Night Lights” win over third-placed Glasgow Academicals - from GHA, who travelled up to Inverness on Saturday and secured a bonus-point win over Highland. These wins set the leading pair up nicely for Saturday's head-to-head at Braidholm.
Accies, Biggar and Gala are the next three cabs off the rank at the top.
NATIONAL 2 is already a very-tight division. Proof of this came with the result in the Kirkcaldy v Falkirk game, won 41-40 by the Fife side.
Since that was only their first league game, it leaves Kirkcaldy in fifth spot, while the two bonus points Falkirk collected leave them second, behind Stewart's-Melville, who had a good win at Berwick.
The only other unbeaten team is Preston Lodge, who had a 13-13 draw with GHK, at Old Anniesland on Saturday.
NATIONAL 3 sees the top four clubs all from the West, unbeaten after the opening two rounds of fixtures.
Allan Glen's maintained their excellent start with a 42-26 win at Howe of Fife, while Hillhead-Jordanhill's trip across the Kingston Bridge to Cartha-Queen's Park produced an 82-22 win to put them second.
Garnock made the long journey to the Granite City to score a 46-43 win over Aberdeen Grammar while Orkney's even-longer trip, to Dumfries, saw them lose 27-36 to their hosts. They certainly appear to like high-scoring in this division.
NATIONAL 4 is being led by the new boys. Ardrossan Academicals, who won the West Regional League last season, are top of the charts, following their excellent 37-18 win at Linlithgow.
Strathmore are leading the chase, after a good 47-7 win at Stewartry, with Dunfermline in third and National League new boys Moray fourth. These two sides met at Elgin's Morrison Field on Saturday, with home advantsage proving crucial as Moray posted a 33-31 win.
REGIONAL LEAGUES
THERE WERE some big wins in Caledonia Regional Division One. In the Midlands Conference, leaders Perthshire had an 82-5 home win over Panmure, while second-placed Blairgowrie won 57-12 at Kinross.
In the North Conference, table-topping Aberdeenshire zipped down to Stonehaven, to stick an unanswered 90 points on Mackie FP, while up at Invergordon, second-placed Ross Sutherland were beating North Police Scotland 53-36 in yet another high-scoring game.
MIDLANDS 2 sees Glenrothes with a four-point lead at the top. In their latest fixture, they beat Strathmore 2 44-27.
The next three clubs: Alloa, Crieff and Strathearn and Hillfoots are all on ten points, but are separated, in that order, by points difference. On Saturday, Alloa won 52-7 at Madras while the meeting of the meeting of the second and third-placed clubs, at Crieff, ended 19-17 in favour of visitors Hillfoots.
NORTH 2's Highlands and Islands Conference is led by Highland 3, but their top of the table clash with Stornoway fell victime to bad weather in The Minch.
Second-placed Orkney meanwhile were beating RAF Lossiemouth 23-5 in the only fixture played in that league.
In the Grampian Conference of this division, leaders Gordonians 2 beat Orkney 30-19, while second-placed Deeside beat Aberdeen Grammar School 2 92-17 at Banchory.
MIDLANDS 3 is led by Kirkcaldy 2, who beat Grangemouth Stags 2 43-24 on Saturday.
Waid Academy, who had no game on Saturday, are second, while the result of the day was surely in this division, where Dundee University Medics thrashed Perthshire 2 153-0.
EAST DIVISION 1, after two rounds of matches, sees three teams still unbeaten.
Dalkeith's 70-12 home win over Portobello, their second bonus-point win, places them first, one point ahead of Broughton, who beat Haddington 38-14. Level on points with Broughton is Langholm, who won 29-21 at Ross High.
EAST DIVISION 2 has only two unbeaten teams after their second round of games.
Dunbar top the table, following inflicting yet more pain on bottom of the table Royal High, travelling into the city to beat their hosts 66-0.
Corstorphine lie second, having crossed the city to beat Trinity Academicals 58-12. In the other two games, Leith Academicals ventured into the wilds of West Lothian, to beat Livingston 27-24, while Penicuik beat Hawick Harlequins 51-33.
EAST DIVISION 3 saw four fixtures on Saturday, and four away wins.
League leaders Earlston travelled to Edinburgh Northern and won 38-14. Second-placed Hawick Linden went across to Duns and won 31-17, while Lismore won 22-19 at Edinburgh University Medics. These three winning teams remain unbeaten this season.
In the only other match, Gala YM won 27-17 at Inverleith.
WEST 1 LEADERS Kilmarnock inducted long-serving club leg ends Bill Barnaby and Ali McCall into their Centurions Club on Saturday, then racked up a century of points, beating Dalziel 104-0.
Second-placed Oban Lorne were also in high-scoring mode, putting 85 points on Bishopton without reply. Third-placed Lenzie also scored a good win, beating Cumnock 41-14.
East Kilbride held onto fourth place, in spite of losing narrowly, 26-31 to visitors Annan, a result guaranteed to make EK Coach Franklin Clark even grumpier than usual.
WEST 2 saw big wins for the division's two unbeaten teams, league-leaders Strathendrick celebrating their win in the Scottish Club Sports Network Awards with a 73-0 thrashing of Uddingston.
Third-placed Wigtownshire, who have played one match less, inflicted further pain on Clydebank, winning 75-3 at London Road. They are separated at the top of the table by Carrick, who had a 29-22 home win over Waysiders-Drumpellier.
WEST 3 is where we find the club which has made the best start to the league season – table-topping Glasgow University Medics.
GUM followed up their opening weekend 90-0 win over Isle of Mull by beating Glasgow Raptors 113-0 on Saturday to lead a three-club tie on ten points at the head of the table.
Lochaber lie second, following their 27-3 win over Mid-Argyll, with Paisley lying third, after their 52-0 demolition of Isle of Mull.
Thanks AA. Nice round up.
ReplyDeleteStirling County had one T Swinson turn out for them on Friday. I hear he’s moved into the area.
Some horrific score lines on saturday. Three ganes over 100pts Those scores aren’t good for anyone. And they were such a rarity in the past. No doubt some specific issues in each game but not a good look.
19 games were called off on Saturday with the whole card in the West Development league scratched. 750 players who didn’t get a game. Or sadly the lack of those 750 players which resulted in calling the games off.
To deepen the drubbing Musselburgh got at Ayr on Saturday, they couldn’t raise a 2s or 3s. They were in good company. Edinburgh Accies 3s and Watsonians 2A both called off unable to raise sides for home games!