SPORT LIST
s
I Sport is listed as diary: by sport, than by day._fh_en by event. '
RICAN FOOTBALL Sunday7
BUDWEISER LEAGUE
I Glasgow Lions v Leeds Cougars Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. 2pm. A Northern v (‘entral (‘onference encounter with the home side no doubt looking to American Quarterback. Darren Trainor. for some inspiration.
EEEE Saturday 9
BENSON 8t HEDGES CUP
I Scotland v Horthants Hamilton ('rescent. Glasgow. Time and prices to be finalised. (‘ontact (I31 317 7247 for details. See panel
FOOTBALL Saturday 6
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Celtic v Hibernian (‘eltic Park. Gallowgate. Glasgow. 3pm. Having used the Edinburgh side for shooting practice in the semi-final of the cup. (‘eltic might wish to repeat the exercise in this league fixture. However. a tighter Hibs defence will be looking to exact some revenge.
I Dundee v Rangers Dens Park. Sandeman Street. Dundee. 3pm. Dundee have taken on a much livelier look since Gordon Wallace became their new manager. but nonetheless they could struggle tocontain a buoyant Rangers side.
I Hearts v Dundee United Tynecastle Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. Although the fixture might have little relevance as far as final league placings are concerned. there will be a certain amount ofpride at stake. Perhaps Jim .‘vtaclean will experiment and play some of his exciting youngsters.
I Hamilton V St Mirren Douglas Park. Hamilton ( 100 yards Hamilton West station). 3pm. Hopefully. a large crowd will turn out to bid adieu to Premier league football for at least a season.
FIRST DIVISION
I Clydebank v Kilmarnock Killiowie Park. (‘lydebank (2 minutes from Singer station) 3pm.
I Falkirk v Dueen ofthe South Brockville. Falkirk ( 1le yards from Grahamston station). 3pm. Falkirk should have no difficulty in scoring a liatful of goalsand keeping their promotion hopes alive.
I Morton V Raith Rovers (‘appiclow Park . Grecnock (5 mins (‘artsdyke station). 3pm.
I Ayr V Airdrie Somerset Park. Somerset Road. Ayr. 3pm.
I Duntermline v Clyde East End Park. Halbeth Road. Duntermline. 3pm. Both teams need a victory for different reasons. (‘lyde are still threatened with relegation. whilst Dunfermline wish to take the place now vacated by Hamilton in the Premier
I)iyision.
I Meadowbank v StJohnstone Meadowbank Stadium. London Road. ladinburgh. 3pm.
I Partick Thistle v Forfar l~‘irhill. l-‘irhill Road. Glasgow. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir Hoghead. Dumbarton ( ltl mins Dumbarton Itast station). 3pm
I Albion Rovers v Arbroath (‘liitonhilL (‘oatbridge ( 10 mins (‘oatdyke station). 3pm. The celebrations are probably continuing from the week before last.
Sunday7
SCOTTISH CUP FINAL (Women)
I Whitehill v Livingston Thistle Johnstone Borough. Johnstone. near Paisley. 2pm. Whitehill currently dominate Scottish women's football. and negotiate the final against Livingstone as holders and Contenders for this season’s Division One championship. With sponsorship levels a simple barometer of the game's development. [3&0 are to be congratulated for extending their involvement at little further than the 3 main Scottish leagues (for men) to include the recent international between Scotland and lingland. (‘arol Legget. Hon. Secretary for the SWl-‘A is optimistic that a series of home internationals might be arranged for next season.
Saturday 13
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Dundee Utd v Hamilton 'I‘annadicc Park. Tannadice Street. Dundee. 3pm.
I Hibernian v Dundee Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. I Motherwell V Hearts Fir Park. Motherwell (all Motherwell bUses passthc ground). 3pm.
I Rangers v Aberdeen lbrox Stadium. Glasgow (2 mins lbrox underground). 3pm. The last game of the season. and how did the Scottish League manage to anticipate that this might have been the championship decider?
I SI Mirren V Celtic Love Street. Paisley (5 mins from Gilmour Street station). 3pm. The scene for (‘eltic's title win in 1986 when everybody expected Hearts toopen the champagne at Dundee.
FIRST DIVISION
I Aer Morton Somerset Park. Somerset Road. Ayr. 3pm.
I Clyde v St Johnstone Firhill. i-‘irhill Road. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Clydebank vAirdrie Kilbowie Park. (‘Iydebank (2 mins from Singer station). 3pm.
I Duntermline v Meadowbank liasi End Park. Halbeth Road. Dunfermline. 3pm. Again. Dunf'erinline's opponents find themselves uncomfortably located near the foot of the table. but perhaps it will be Dunfermline'sJim Leishmaii whowill travel along the coast of File to dance ‘in the streetsof Raith'.
I Forfar V Falkirk Station Park. Forfar 3pm.
Lal Rajput
Whilst those gracing the field of Ochilview Park might not be able to offerthe good people of Stenhousemuir any more than mid-table 2nd Division football, there can instead be found, down at the Tryst, a pretty respectable version of the game that has given rise to so much classic sports literature — cricket. Although restricted to the service of just the one international player in any particular season, throughout the years Stenhousemuir Cricket Club has seen the likes of Abdul Ouadir and Omar Henry take the crease in their colours. and the result has been consistently high positions in the Ryden East of Scotland league. Perhaps encouraged by the injection of quality imports, the club frequently provides players for the national XI. And as the season begins to shake off its winter clothes, once again the country finds itself about to be tested against the full-timers from the major
league English counties by way of the Benson & Hedges Cup.
In reality, Scotland’s chances of qualifying in their pool and progressing to the quarter-final in the competition are considerably less than slim, though the taste of victory has not completely eluded the team during their ten-year participation. The defeat of the mighty Lancashire some three seasons ago is a memory worth cherishing, and with that very same county in this year’s pool, along with Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Horthants, the Scots have few reasons to feel intimidated. With former captain Richard Swan likely to remain high up in the batting order, the team will be led during the course of the series by South African, Clive Rice, widely acknowledged to be amongst the top ten all-rounders in the world. Although he will once more occupy the position of eligible foreigner, residency qualifications will enable Clarence Parfitt— now with Stenhousemuir-and the aforementioned Omar Henry— now with Arbroath — to play also. Notwithstanding the fact that Scotland's amateurs practise less often and in poorer playing conditions, there is every reason to believe that standards are creeping upwards, as our improving performances in the annual fixture against Ireland bear witness. The first Benson & Hedges match, against Lancashire at Perth, will have already taken place on
i Tuesday 2 May. The next two fixtures. against Leicestershire and Warwickshire, on Tuesday 9 and
Thursday 11, are being played away from home. However. Scotland's best chance of increasing its tally of victories takes place against Horthants at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow. on
i' Saturday 13. Be prepared for an 11am
'1
start, should the weather defy the pundits and fail to halt play. (Mike
Wilson)
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i
SECOND DIVISION 7 I Albion Rovers v Berwick Rangers ('liftonhill. (‘oatbridge ( 10 mins from ('oatdyke station). 3pm. Probably one of the most attractive fixtures of the season. Each team deserves to win a place in the hearts of the romantics. Albion are tobe promoted for the first time since the Dark Ages. and Berwiek managed to string together a record series ofunbeaten matches and still remain near the bottom of the league.
I Dumbarton vAlloa Boghead. Dumbarton (10 mins form Dumbarton East station). 3pm.
I East Stirling v Cowdenbeath Firs Park. Firs Street. Falkirk. 3pm.
SPEEDWAY Friday 5
GRAND SLAM SEMI EVENT
Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. 7.30pm. An event for top-ranking individuals from the National League. Glasgow Tigers' riders. Kenny McKinna and Steve Lawson. each have realistic hopes of winning through to the final.
NATIONAL LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP
I Edinburgh Belmont Monarchs vArena Essex Hammers Powderhall Stadium. Beaverhall Road. Edinburgh. 7.15pm. The (‘up gets under way with a contest between two well-matched sides. The return is in Essex the next day.
Ffiday12
NATIONAL LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP
I Glasgow Tigers v Eastbourne Eagles Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. 7.30pm. This first round. first leg. fixture could prove to be a tough test for the Tigers. given the pedigree oftheir opponents. Eastbourne are former cup and league winners. and they have the world's former number 2 in their line-up. Gordon Kennett.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
I Edinburgh Belmont Monarchs v Poole Pirates Powderhall Stadium. Beaverhall Road. Edinburgh. 7.15pm. Poole are rated favourites for the National League; their team includes Aussie sensation. Leigh Adams. a world-class prospect.
VOLLEYBALL Saturday 6
ROYAL BANK SCOTTISH PLATE FINAL
I (Women)Team Scottish Farm v Paisley Ladies.
I (MenjElliott Sports Jets v Pentland HUVOC Wishaw Sports Centre. Alexander Street. Wishaw'. Noon and 2.30pm. Donation for programme. Elliott Sports Jets w ill be looking for victory to compensate for their relegation from Division I ofthe National League.
Sunday7
ROYAL BANK SCOTTISH CUP FINAL
I (Women) Provincial Insurance vAdscreen Kyle.
I (Men) Kinleith Plant v Team Krystal Klear Kelvin Hall. Glasgow. Noon aiid2.3l)pm. £2 (adult) and £l .5ll(child) These teams represent the best of the Dis isionl leagues. Adscreen Kyle lost only the one match in the lb’they played towinthe Women's championship. w hilst a similar record was achieved by Kinleith Plant who beat second-placed Team Krystal Klear by 4 points to win the Men's l)l\ isioii ()ne title Therefore. as a climax to the season. one cannot ask for much more.
A
The List 5 *— lH May Wis") 57