SPORT
listings
Events are listed alphabetically by sport, then by da . Fixtures are correct at time o publication, but may be affected b weather. Sports Listin s compiled y Brian
Dona dson.
ATHLETICS
Scottish Athletics Federation National Road Race Championship Sat 15. Strathclyde Park. For full information give the Scottish Athletics Federation a call on 0|3l 317 7320.
BADMINTON
Burn Stewart Glasgow Open Sat 8—Sun 9. Cockbtirn Centre. Glasgow. Details on all the weekcnd‘s frantic shuttlecock action frotn the organiser on ()l41775l2l9.
Scottish Cup League Final Sat 8. Noon—4pm. Auchinleck Indoor Bowling Club. Auchinleck. Edinburgh's Bainlield clash with West l.othian to see who will capture the crown previously held by Prestwick. More info is available on 0|29-l 468372.
Maxwell ‘I’r0phy Final Tue I If Greenacres Curling Rink. Renfrewshire. Give the organiser a hell on ()I3l 333 3003 ifyou want to know more.
FOOTBALL
Saturday 8
TENNENT'S SCOTTISH CUP QUARTER- FINALS
Dundee United v Motherwell 't‘aimadice Park. Tannadice Street. Dundee. 3pm. United will now be many people's tip fora place in the final. with one half of the Old Firm missing from the semis. The visitors can put their miserable league form to one side and concentrate on causing an upset. Falkirlt v Raith Brockville Park. Hope Street. Falkirk. 3pm. With promotion out of the window. Falkirk have at least restored some pride with a cup run which saw them topple Dunfennline. Now they meet the Pats local rivals who tnay have their minds tnore on survival. As Michael Stipe once (nearly) put it -~ ‘Don't Go Back To Brockville’.
Morton v Kilmarnock Cappielow I’ark. Sinclair Street. Greenock. 3pm. It‘s not outwith the realms of belief that these two could be swapping divisions next term btit a semi place is all that will concern Alan McGraw and Bobby Williatnson today.
Saturday 15
PREMIER LEAGUE
Aberdeen v Dundee United Pittotlrie Stadium. Pittodrie Street. Aberdeen. 3pm. Hearts v Hibs Tynecastle Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 3 m.
Kilmarnock v Mot erwell Rugby Park.
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ICE HOCKEY Ayr Eagles
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Fire and ice: Ayr Eagles bring the game to life in Scotland
The profile of ice hockey in Scotland is currently rising, thanks to the rapid progress by standard bearers Ayr Eagles. As the inaugural Superleague finishes, the Eagles are metaphorically flying. with an impressive run into the prestigious play-off stages. As the only Scots outfit involved. they face major challenges ahead against champions Cardiff Devils. Manchester Storm and Newcastle Cobras. Fortunes have been mixed against the forthcoming opponents. but following a recent 7-0 success against the Cobras, the play-
offs are arriving at just the right time.
‘The schedule of games suits us well,’ says Eagles coach Jim Lynch. 'We‘re playing the best teams in the Superleague and, over a spell of the last twenty games. we've been the hottest team in terms of results.’
For the Scottish scene generally, Lynch admits it will take time before standards improve: 'The level of quality in Scotland is not very high, and there is a gulf between the Northern Premier League and the Superleague, but I think eventually it could serve as a feeding ground for the
Superleague.’
Despite this. with healthy coverage of ice hockey courtesy of satellite television. there is a keen breakthrough in galvanising support. 'The public took a while to come along and support us. but now our games are in big demand,’ Lynch adds. Geographically, the Eagles' fervent fan-base spans from Glasgow to Dumfries, auguring positively for the future.
According to Lynch. the club will maintain improvement aside from the play-offs: 'We'll be looking to strengthen the team in the summer for next season and achieve a better level of consistency - to finish at least in the
top three.’ (Julian Taylor)
. I Ayr Eagles play Cardiff Devils on Sun 9 Mar; Manchester Storm on Wed 12 Mar; and Newcastle Cobras on Sat 15 Mar. All matches are at The Centrum,
Prestwick.
Rugby Road. Kilmarnock. 3pm.
Raith Rovers v Dunfermline Starks Park. Pratt Street. Kirkcaldy. 3pm. FIRST DIVISION
Airdrie v Falkirk Broadwood Stadium. Cumbernauld. 3pm.
Clydebank v Partick Thistle Boghead Park. Miller Street. Dumbarton. 3pm. Dundee v St Johnstone Dens Park. Sandeman Street. Dundee. 3pm.
St Mirren v Morton St Mirren Park. Love Street. Paisley. 3pm.
Stirling Albion v East Fife Forthbank Stadium. Sprinkerse Industrial Estate. Stirling. 3pm.
Sunday16
PREMIER LEAGUE
Celtic v Rangers Celtic Park. Kerrydale Street. Glasgow. 3pm. It will be revenge mission time for someone today after last week‘s cup clash. but many would say that this match is the real biggie. Whether it will be nine-in-a-row could be decided here with a draw or away victory almost ensuring that the title stays at lbrox. while only a home win will be good enough for Totnmy Burns‘s team. With six games left after this one. there can be no room for slip-ups.
HUMAN TABLE TOP FOOTBALL
Grand Final Sun 16. llam-3pm. Kelvin Hall. Glasgow. The world's most surreal sport comes to Glasgow with individuals strapping themselves to a pole with velcro and moving themselves in a sideways kind of way. Backwards and forwards is strictly forbidden. And it's all in the name ofcharity. with funds going to the Royal National Institute for the Blind. Further information is available from the organiser on ()l334 655393.
ICE HOCKEY
Superleague Playoffs The centrum. Prestwick. Ayr Eagles take on the best teams in the Superleague: Cardiff Devils
listings SPORT
on Sun 9. Manchester Storm on Wed 12. and Newcastle Cobras on Sat l5.
JU JITSU
UK Sports lu litsu Championships Sun l6. Bonar Hall. Dundee. Call the organiser on OI 382 458262.
MOTOR OYOLINO
National Enduro Championship Sun l6. Woodside. Aberdeen. Information on this event is available from the organiser on 0l667 452848.
MOTOR SPORT
Valentine Rally Sat 8. Stirling. Full details frotn the Scottish Motor Sport Federation on ()l4l 221 3850.
ORIENTEERING
Scotlandsgalaopen 1 Sun 9. Dunrod Hill. Greenock. For all the details on this event. which requires expertise in compasses. scores and controls. contact ()l4l 942 9907.
RUGBY UNION
Saturday 15
FIVE NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP France v Scotland Parc des Princes. Paris. 3pm. The Scots will be looking forward to the end of this match and. with it. a dismal championship campaign. Now is the time for rebuilding and the only consolation froin this year‘s venture is the discovery of some possible future stars such as Watsonians Duncan Hodge and Steven Brotherstone.
Scottish Masters Championship Sat 8—Sun 9. Glenshee. All the details you require are with the Scottish National Ski Council on 0l3l 3 I7 7280.
W
Andrew Motion
Salt Water
(Faber £7.99)
an PICADOR
present an Evening of Poetry with
faker andfaber
Robin Robertson
A Painted Field
(Picador £6.99)
Reading from their new collections Friday 14th March 7pm Waterstone's (East End) 13/14 Princes Street Tickets free 0131 556 3034
7-20 Mar 1997 THE LIST 91