SPORT LIST
the hallmark of the Scottish Pint-of-Spesh Cup will be in evidence for all to savour.
I Heart of Mldlothlan v FalkirkTyncca'stlc Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. if you are completing your fixed odds betting coupon at this moment,just remember the right good gubbing Hearts received at the hands ofThe Bairns some two decades ago. With John Robertson on form, Hearts should find few problems scoring perhaps one goal past the Falkirk goalkeeper. who lost four against Raith Rovers a couple of weeks ago.
I Ayr United v St erren Somerset Park. Ayr, 3pm. This is a hard one to predict. since Ayr (managed by the ebullient Ally MacLeod — will we ever see his like again?) have a capacity to play attacking football and St Mirren have an almost equal capacity for letting in goals (almost two a game in their League programme to date).
I Dunfermline v Hamilton Accies East End Park. Haibeath Road. Dunfermline, 3pm. Dunfermline should have no problem seeing off a Hamilton side. who. by their manager‘s own admission. do not yet have the wherewithal to mount a serious challenge on the First Division championship. Put this down as a score draw.
I Morton v Raith Rovers (‘appielow Park. Greenock (5 mins from Cartsdyke station). 3pm. I haven‘t seen Morton recently. but aside from the talented Collins. their greatest strength at present lies in their ability to snatch draws from the jaws of defeat/victory. Indeed. when they played Raith in the League a month ago. the score was 1-1.
I Rangers v St Johnstone lbrox Stadium. Glasgow (2 mins ibrox underground). 3pm. Aside from the match which brings together the two Dundee sides. this must be the tie ofthc round. A repeat ofone of last season’s semi-finals (this one goingto a replay). Rangers will find themselves against a side who hardly know what it isto taste defeat and therefore brimming with confidence. Hopefully. St Johnstone‘s likeable chairman. Geoff Brown. will be able to make it to this tie, having hadto miss the first semi-final last season because of his son’s wedding. Prediction (in true Daily Record style): a Rangers win (due to home advantage).
I Pertlck Thistle v Aberdeen Firhill Park. Maryhill. Glasgow. 3pm. Could this be Thistlc‘s year? Unlikely. against a well-organised and not untalented Aberdeen side. Indeed. since Sandy Clark took over the reins from John Lambie. Thistle have all but blown their promotion hopes, with the result that some Jags fans have already begun to question the tactical acumen of their new manager.
I Airdrie v Caledonian Broomfield. Airdrie (5 mins Airdrie station) . 3pm. This will not be an easy match for the non-League side. Need any more be said? Airdrie will probably lose by five.
I East Fife v Meedowbenk Thistle Bayview. Methil. 3pm.
I Motherwell V Clyde Fir Park. Motherwell (all Motherwell buses pass the ground). Should Motherwell be in a position to field a first team. given the propensity its players have for being suspended for indiscipline. they will have few problems against the First Division side (who drew a couple of weeks ago against. . . Morton). I Albion Rovers v Clydebank Cliftonhill Park. Coatbridge (10 mins Coatdyke station). 3pm. An interesting tie. with Albion Rovers beginning to string one or two good results together (for example. 5-4 against Partick Thistle) and Clydebank scoring so freely (for example. 4-0 over St Johnstone).
I Forfarv Celtic Station Park, Forfar. 3pm. Forfar will need to field one or two ineligble players who happen to play for West Germany or Brazil if they are to maintain any hope of halting Celtic‘s defence of the Cup.
I Elgin City v Hibernian Glebe Park,
As «3‘1
I At least one of the three Scottish teams ;
entered forthe prestigious Glenfiddich Indoor Hockey Tournament (Kelvin Hall, Argyle Street, Glasgow 13-14 Jan, from 9am) should reach the final, despite formidable foreign competition, including the Spanish ‘El Cid’, apparently an alias forthe nahonalsquad.
Confidence stems not from the quixotic fortunes of Scotland’s outdoor side, but from the high quality of coaching now available as well as a reasonably well-organised indoor league. The Scottish teams are perhaps more tactically aware than their opponents, especially important indoors where brains rule brawn. Indicative of this is the fact that neither of the two English representatives, St Albans and East Grinstead, are fancied as likely winners, at a time when English hockey, through its domination of the Great Britain side, has never looked more promising.
The aspirations of Edinburgh's MIM (Guytec's indoorteam), Dundee’s HMP Menzieshill and hosts, Indespension (Western's indoor side), could be
ALCOHOCKEY
seriously threatened however by reigning champions, Alster, from Hamburg, and the swashbuckling Dutch crew, Buccaneers, comprising past and present internationalists. Both teams are included in the group of fourwhich also includes Menzieshill. Onlythe top two will go through to the semi-finals. On paper, MIM’s group, with El Cid, Indespension and St Albans, looks easier. MIM will rely on the two Andrews, Hay and Scouler (Development Officer of the Scottish Hockey Union), to provide shape to their attacking style, and to their brace of goalkeepers, 42 year-old Maurice Wilson and Alistair McLean, to keep the opposition out.
Both Guytec/MIM and Menzieshill have considerable strength in depth; each club is capable of putting out at least three teams in the outdoor leagues which are dominated at present by the former. If either club can translate their domestic form to the international arena, one could well be toasting a win in superior malt on Sunday evening. (Mike Wilson)
Brechin. 3pm. With the morale at Easter Road said to be very low at the moment (more transfer requests on the horizon— or could this be a rumour planted by Hearts-backed subversives?). don‘t be too sure that the Edinburgh side will progress to the next round.
Saturday 20
SECOND DIVISION I Kllmarnock v Stenhousemuir Rugby Park. Rugby Road. Kilmarnoek. 3pm.
Szturday 13 and Sunday
I Glenfiddich Indoor Tournament Kelvin Hall. Argyle Street. Glasgow. On both days. matches will begin at around 9am. The final. which will be shown live on BBC TV. will take place at 3pm on Sunday. Ticket prices: £2. See panel.
Saturday 21
I Under-21 Inter-District Championships While the women‘s section is being played at Newport-on-Tay. the Men play at Wishaw Sports Centre. Alexander Street. Wishaw, beginning at 9am. with the Midland. North. East. West and Highland districts playing a round robin tournament to a conclusion.
BEBE;- Ffldaylz
I Edinburgh Musselburgh Racecourse.
Musselburgh. Club £8. Paddock £4 (paddock concessions available). A National iiunt meeting. beginning at 12.45pm.
Monday 22
I Edinburgh Musselburgh Racecourse. Musselburgh. Club £8. Paddock £4 (paddock concessions available). More jumping. beginning at 1.15pm.
ICE HOCKEY
HEIHEKEN BRITISH PREMIER LEAGUE Fnday12
I Fife Flyers v Cardiff Devils Kirkcaldy ice Rink. 8pm. The Devils have been very strong throughout the season. while the Flyers have blown hot and cold. partlydue to injuries to key personnel. particularly forwards. Rick Fcra and Luc Beausoleil. This match will be televised for screening on Grandstand the next day.
Saturday 13
I Ayr Raiders v Peterborough Pirates Ayr ice Rink. Limekiins Road. Ayr. 7pm. Like the Flyers. the Raiders have been a bit inconsistent this season. perhaps more so when you consider that in the space of seven days their 10-1 defeat of Fife was overturned in a return match. 12-4.
Sunday14
I Murrayfield Racers v Peterborough Pirates Murrayfield ice Rink. Riversdalc Crescent. Edinburgh. 6.30pm. Aftera poor start to the season. Murrayfield have
put together a very good run. with the attendant boost to confidence that this brings. A brief tendency to leak goals has been hailed. partly as a result of the introduction of Steve Moore to the defence.
Saturday 20
I Ayr Raiders v Murrayfield Racers Summit Centre. Minerva Way. i’inniesion (‘ross. Glasgow. 5pm.
I Fife Flyers v Solihull Barons Kirkcaldy ice Rink. 7. 15pm.
RUGBY Saturday 13
After the Winter Break. \\ hich for sortie players is no break at all what with District matches and friendlies to play. the McEwan‘s Leagues get under \s ay again on Saturday 13. only to pause on the 20th because of a Scotland B fixture away to France.
MCEWAN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE. DIVISION 1 I Edinburgh Acads V Gala Racburn Place. Stockbridge. Edinburgh. 2pm.
I Heriot's FP v Jedforest ( ioldcnaci c. Bangholm Terrace. Iidinbiirgli. 2pm.
I Boroughmuirv Melrose Mcggcllantl. Colinton Road. Edinburgh. 2pm.
I Glasgow High/Kelvinside v Stirling County Old Anniesland. (‘rovs Road. ( ilasgow. 2pm.
I West of Scotland v Hawick Iiurnbrac. Glasgow Road. Milngavic. 2pm. MCEWAN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE, DIVISION 2 I Currie v Glasgow Acads Mullen} i’ark. Baierno. near Edinburgh. 2pm.
I Edinburgh Wands v Watsonians Murrayfield. (’orstorphine Road. Edinburgh. 2pm.
VOLLEYBALL
The Volleyball season continues. after its short Winter recess. with Airdrie leading East Kilbride and Kinleith Plant by two points in the Men‘s First Division. and Adscreen Kyle unsurprisineg occupying the top berth in the Women's First Division. ahead of Provincial Insurance and Falkirk. Airdrie's record is seven \\ ins and two losses (against Krystal Klearand Bellshill Cardinals) in its nine-game programme. while Adscreen's record against the other nine teams in the Women's First Division includes a single defeat. at the hands of Elliott SportsJels. Airdrie have 23 points (where three points are gained for a win. and one for a loss); Adscreen have 25.
Saturday 13
ROYAL BANK NATIONAL LEAGUE. MEN'S DIVISION ONE
I Kinleith Plant v East Kilbride 'I'ynccasllc High School. McLeod Street. iidinburgh. 12.15pm.
I Airdrie v Elliott Sports Jets t‘oliimha Sports Centre. Coatbridge. 2.30pm.
I Bellshill Cardinals v Falkirk ( 'ardinal Newman High School. I3ellsl1i|l.(ilasgovs ,
ROYAL BANK NATIONAL LEAGUE, WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE
I Airdrie V Elliott Sports Jets (‘olumba Sports Centre. Coatbridge. 12.30pm
Saturday 20
ROYAL BANK NATIONAL LEAGUE. MEN'S DIVISION ONE
I Kinleith Plant v Team Fife ’I‘ynccastlc High School. McLeod Street. Iitiinlitlrgh. 12.15pm.
I Elliott Sports Jets v Su Ragain Ainslie Park Sports Centre. i’ilton Drive. Edinburgh. noon.
ROYAL BANK NATIONAL LEAGUE, WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE
I Elliott Sports Jets v Glasgow Bannerman Ainslie Park Sports Centre. Pilton Drive. Edinburgh. 2.30pm.
I Provincial Insurance v Grangeburn Coaches Tynecastle Iiigh School. McLeod Street. Edinburgh. 10.15am.
“The List 12—25 January 1990