Glaswegian Shields starts rout as Clan’s winning run grinds to halt
ICE HOCKEY
Clan’s seven-match winning run came to an end last night when the reigning champions proved too strong for them in Belfast last night, writes Nigel Duncan.
Ryan Finnerty, the Clan coach, had to wait until less than four minutes from the end of the top-of-the-table clash before his side netted, Stefan Meyer scoring on a power play, but his side were down and out long before that.
Glasgow-born Colin Shields scored his 197th Elite League goal to open the home side’s account after 17 minutes. Craig Peacock doubled the advantage seven minutes later and Kevin Saurette scored No.3 only 34 seconds later to stun the visitors. Peacock finished the scoring on the power play 24 minutes later as Belfast collected their 399th win.
Clan outshot the home side 37-30 but Dundee-born Stephen Murphy stayed ice cool and Clan’s cause was not helped by 30 minutes in penalties handed out to forward Derek Roehl. nJeff Hutchins, the Dundee Stars player/ coach, aims to capitalise on the Clan setback when his squad visits Braehead tonight. The experienced Hutchins, who has played 499 games and joins an elite club when he reaches 500 if he ices tonight, believes his men have the ability to put real pressure on Ryan Finnerty’s men even though Stars are bottom of the 10-strong Elite League and Clan joint spot. Hutchins’ men have lost twice to Clan at home this season but said: “Braehead have a hard game at Belfast on Friday night and we want to use that for ourselves.”
Training, he said, had been positive this week even though the side have lost their last seven league games and he looked back at Sunday’s narrow loss to Nottingham Panthers for positives. “The boys worked hard and I’ll be looking for the same effort again from the squad,” he said. “Our concentration is on trying to win games.”
Danny Stewart, Fife Flyers associate player/coach, wants four point from his side’s to back-to-back home games. Seventh-placed Flyers entertain Hull Stingrays, who are eighth, tonight and Edinburgh Capitals tomorrow. “We’re looking for two good performances from the guys,” he said. “We need consistency here.”
Edinburgh Capitals, who are second from bottom, have injury concerns over several players as they prepare to entertain third-placed Sheffield Steelers tonight, needing two goals to reach 900 at home in all competitions.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Graham Gano’s hopes of being the second Scot to reach a Super Bowl suffered a setback as Carolina Panthers lost 28-10 to New Orleans Saints. The Arbroath-born kicker made a 31-yard field goal in the final quarter but it was not enough to turn it around and the Panthers have now only won once in seven weeks. Gano is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Greenock-born Lawrence Tynes who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. nblob par with no indent
ATHLETICS
The Scottish duo Beth Potter and Steph Twell have been ordered to mix business with pleasure today with both to line up in New York’s Central Park 5k, writes Mark Woods. The Great Britain internationalists are gearing up for the cross country campaign, with Potter coming off her major championship debut at August’s Europeans where she was 14th in the final.
After planning a belated end-ofseason break Stateside, the pair have been entered in the race by their coach Mick Woods as a means to sharpen up. “I planned to go away after the Euros but I didn’t get round to it,” Potter said. “So Steph suggested we went to New York at half-term. We needed a break so this is the reward and then it’s back to training for the Euro cross trials.”
HOCKEY
Kelburne Bromac are in what they must consider their rightful position at the top of the Scottish League, but only on goal difference over Grange, writes Craig Madden. The Paisley outfit do have one crucial game in hand and boast a 100% record.
Western Wildcats are Kelburne’s opponents tomorrow and they, too, are on 15 points, but third on goal difference. Western’s single defeat was to Grange and Grange lost early on to Clydesdale when they were really on a roll. PSL Team Sport Clydesdale have slipped in recent weeks from leading the way to being sixth, five points adrift of the leaders and with more games played.
Auchenhowie hosts the match of the weekend today, though, between Wildcats and Kelburne. The decisive factor may be Kelburne’s goalscoring threat as they can rely on several players to chip in: their ration of seven goals per game so far eclipses Western’s three.
Grange v Edinburgh University is another meeting of second v fourth with Grange starting as firm favourites. The top four positions may look quite different after these two games.
Dundee Wanderers are not as poor a side as losses in their first seven games would suggest, at least in terms of their first halves, but they have been unable to maintain their efforts for the full 70 minutes and it could be their downfall away to Clydesdale and herald a resurgence for their hosts. nTomorrow’s Scottish Cup last 16 ties will hold few fears for the top sides. Kelburne Bromac should see off first division opponents in Inverleith and it should be even more straightforward for Grange away to Perthshire and Western Wildcats away to Erskine Stewart’s-Melville.
Most intriguing encounter is the meeting of the Dundee pair, first division Wanderers who are still pointless while Grove Menzieshill lead the second division having won all eight league games so far, scoring at nine goals per game. Watsonians and Edinburgh University meet in another all-Division 1 tie which the students should win.
Hillhead should have the edge on second division Stepps while the allsecond division meeting of St Andrews University, second, and third-placed Uddingston should be a rare contest.
VOLLEYBALL
Unbeaten Su Ragazzi face another major test in the women’s Scottish League today when they travel to face reigning champions City of Edinburgh. Ragazzi came back from two sets down to defeat Edinburgh Jets last weekend and another win would confirm them as early favourites for the title.