STING
Events are listed alphabetically by sport. then by day. Sport Listings compiled by Tom Lappin.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL Sunday 4
THE CAPITAL BOWL
I Glasgow Lions v Dundee Whalers Meadowbank Stadium. Edinburgh. lpm. I Falkirk Cougars v Fife 49ers Meadowbank Stadium. Edinburgh. 2.15pm. The annual capital gridiron encounter. with the two semi-finals followed by the final at 4pm. Three hours of play with no time-outs for a mere £5 admission (£3 concessions). See preview.
FOOTBALL
Saturday 27
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Alrdrie v St Johnstone Brooml'leld. Airdrie. 3pm. Another one of those gripping Premier League tussles full of desperation. brawn and mindless expenditure ofenergy. It‘s a pity it's got so very little to do with football.
I Dundee Utd V Celtic Tannadice Park. 'l‘annadice Street. Dundee. 3pm.
Midland Street Glasgow 041 22
I Hibs V Falklrk Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Partick Thistle V Hearts Firhill. Firhill Road. Glasgow. 3pm.
Inangers v Dundee lbrox Stadium. Glasgow. 3pm.
FIRST DIVISION
I Ayr V Balth Rovers Somerset Park. Somerset Road. Ayr. 3pm.
I Clydebank v St Mirren Kilbowie Park. Clydebank. 3pm.
I Cowdenbeath v Hamilton Central Park. Cowdenbeath. 3pm.
I Dunfermline v ltilmarnock East End Park. Dunfermline. 3pm.
I Morton v Dumbarton Cappielow Park. Greenock. 3pm.
I Stirling Albion v Meadowbank Annlield. Stirling. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Albion Rovers v Gueen Of The South (‘liftonhilL (‘oatbridge 3pm.
I Clyde v East Stirling l)ouglas Park. Hamilton. 3pm.
Saturday 3
SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINALS
I Bangers v Hearts Celtic Park. Gallowgate. Glasgow. 3pm. Can Hearts throw a spanner in the works of the Rangers treble bid‘.’ Given their lack of
GI 4I’R I 9736
Cafe LOCO
Every Saturday _ll.00pm - 3.30am
Northbound Blues Club%
Thursdays 10.30pm - 2.30am _ Presents a season of international Blues artists ;/\pl‘ll lst JAMES HUNTER and the JOKERS ; + State of Affairs l April 81h JON CLEAY E + (.‘iti/en Kane
Tickets from Tower Records (2nd Floor) or The Arches. Postal bookings 0770 600090.
AMERICAN WITHOUT TEARS
What do most people remember about American Superbowl matches? The scores? The acrobatic touchdowns? Mickey Mouse sending best wishes to ‘our boys In the Gulf’? Well, rest assured that Mickey won’t be at Meadowbank Stadium when Capital Bowl VIII kicks off on Sunday 4 April. Those Scottish linebackers would have him for breakfast. Anyway, Scotland’s biggest American Football event doesn’t need the tackiness of its llFL counterpart - here, it’s helmets on, heads down and onto the field for three hours’ non-stop, hard- tackllng entertainment.
As always, four teams will be taking part - relgnlng champs Glasgow Lions, Dundee Whalers, File 49ers and Falklrk Cougars. The competition consists of two semi-finals and a grand final, all played with a running clock for one hour each game. llo time outs, no stops between plays. Just pure, spectator-friendly action.
American Football has been growing steadily in Scotland for about a decade, helped at first by Channel 4’s coverage of the NFL, but now firmly settled in its own niche. Standard of play ranges widely - the Lions lead the Scottish field in the top [Ill-wide llDMA league, whereas the 49ers and the Whalers battle it out in the top division on home turf, with the newcomer Cougars using two seasons
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Holders Glasgow Lions in action in a previous Capital Bowl.
of heavy defeats as building blocks for the future. American input is important, and this year the Lions - five times winners of the Capital Bowl — can boast a new head coach in John llewans, former assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers, while the others have a handful of imported pros and tilt-based American servicemen. The first semi-final begins at 1pm with the Whalers hoping to avoid a mauling by the Lions; at 2.15pm, the Cougars will be able to show how much they’ve improved since being beaten 83-0 by their Fife opponents in the first game of last season. All this, and not a Mick Luckhurst in sight. (Alan Morrison) Capital Bowl VIII is at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh at 1pm on Sunday 4 April. Tickets (ES/£3) from the stadium, Thompsons Sports, Colin Campbell Sports and Archway Promotions.
inspiration in midfield. it seems unlikely. I Hibs V Aberdeen Tynecastle Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. Hibs are possibly a better capital cup bet. having a capacity for the unpredictable that is a useful asset in one-off cup-ties. PREMIER LEAGUE
I Dundee v Pertick Thlstle Dens Park. Sandeman Street. Dundee. 3pm.
I Falklrk v Dundee United Brockville. Falkirk. 3pm. Falkirk's light against relegation has become so determined of late that Jim McLean‘s men could be left whistling REM's ‘Don't Go Back To Brockville‘ by the end of this one.
I HIDS V St Johnstone [Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. I Motherwell v Hearts Fir Park. Motherwell. 3pm.
FIRST DIVISION
I Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath Boghead. Dumbarton. 3pm.
I Dunferrnllne v Stirling Albion tias-t lind Park. Dunfermline. 3pm.
I Hamilton V Haith Rovers Douglas Park. Hamilton. 3pm.
I ltllmamock v Clydebank Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. 3pm.
I Morton V AVT United C appielow Park. Greenock. 3pm.
I St Mirren v Meadowbank Love Street. Paisley. 3pm.
SECDHD DIVISION
I Albion Rovers v East Fife Cliftonhill. Coatbridge. 3pm.
I Alloa Athletic V Arbroath Recreation Park. Alloa. 3pm.
I East Stirling v oueen’s Park Firs Park. Firs Street. Falkirk. 3pm.
GEEK— Thursday 8
I Hamilton Park Races Hamilton Park Racecourse. Bothwell Road. Hamilton. Club £10. Paddock £5 (£3). 2. l5pm. The first Flat meeting of the new season in Scotland. with plenty of interest in the early two-year-olds facing their first trip
to a racecourse. There are few easier ways for the punter to lose large amounts of dosh than investing in these unpredictable nurseries.
SPEEDWAY
Friday 26
I Edinburgh Gulf Dil Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers Powderhall Stadium. lidinburgh. 7.15pm. Speedway returns for a new season with a Spring Trophy clash between these two great rivals. lidinburgh have strengthened their squad with liinn Vesa Ylinen. while Glasgow have added Nigel (‘rabtree and David Walsh and are already talking about a title bid.
Sunday 28
I Glasgow Tigers v Edinburgh Gulf Gil
Monarchs Shawlield Stadium. Glasgow. 6.30pm. The second leg of this opening ‘friendly' trophy match.
Friday 2
I World Championship Quarter-Final Powderhall Stadium. lidinburgb. 7.15pm. Some leading Division 2 riders join Division 1 stars in the search fora place in the next round. en route to the World final in Germany.
Sunday 4
I Glasgow Tigers v Belle Vue Aces Shawfleld Stadium. Glasgow. 6.30pm. An inter-league challenge match against Belle Vue. one of the best young teams in Division I. with riders including Joe Screen. Shawn Moran and Jason Lyons.
VOLLEYBALL
Sunday 28
I Glasgow Powerhouse v Team Components Bureau Meadowbank Sports Centre. lidinburgh. lpm. Women‘s l‘inal. I Jets V Sll Bagazzi Meadowbank Sports Centre. lidinburgh. 3.30pm. Men's liinal. Tickets £4 (£2).
56 The List 26 March—X April 1993