Tour golfers enjoy day of Chinese culture in Foshan
Scottish golfing duo Robert MacIntyre from Oban and Bearsden’s Ewen Ferguson immersed themselves in some traditional culture while in China.
MacIntyre and Ferguson were playing in the European Challenge Tour’s end of season Chinese Swing as the Road to Ras Al Khaimah hots up and last week played in the Foshan Open following the Hainan Open played the week before.
Traditional
The pair of young Scots were taken into the middle of Foshan and were treated to a traditional Chinese Lion Dancing show, before giving it a go themselves, and were then taught a lesson in Chinese calligraphy.
The Lion Dancing is a long-running art form which is kept alive by small groups who teach the next generation the dance, as well as the meaning behind it.
Following the conclusion of the show, the players were taught by a Grand Master of calligraphy how to write in Chinese symbols.
After experiencing a morning of Chinese culture, Robert and Ewen said: ‘We learned some Chinese Lion Dancing, which was fun, and then we gave it a little go ourselves. We think we were pretty good – it was great fun.
‘Even just driving around the streets of Foshan, it was amazing to see the different culture and the sights.
‘The Lion dancing was really cool. When you’re watching them, they make it look so easy and you don’t think they’re doing anything very special until you get in that suit and give it a go yourself. You need some serious co-ordination for that stuff.’
Robert said: ‘China is completely different to every other country we go to. Even coming from Hainan last week to this week in Foshan, it’s so different.
Cultures
‘I enjoy seeing different places and different cultures and I think it’s really good for everyone.
‘Personally I thought Chinese writing was Chinese writing but it’s so different to what I thought. It’s so detailed with all the little flicks they put into the writing.’
The pair’s attention then switched to the more serious matter of the Foshan Open on Thursday October 18.
‘I enjoy seeing different places and different cultures and I think it’s really good for everyone’
Uddingston 2 Oban Saints 4 (after extra time) West of Scotland Cup
Extra-time goals from Craig MacEwan and Donald Campbell sealed a hard-fought West of Scotland Cup victory for Oban Saints against a very useful Uddingston side last Saturday.
At Glasgow’s Toryglen Regional Football Centre, a short hop from the National Stadium at Hampden Park, Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Championship A leaders Uddingston pushed Saints all the way in a thrilling battle for a place in the third round draw.
Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell had planned to stick closely to the starting 11 from the previous outing in the Scottish Amateur Cup win over St Johns, however, an unwell James Ford had to call off just before the minibus departed Station Square handing an unexpected starting place to new signing David Beaton.
Saints kicked off on the all weather surface at Toryglen with a stiff breeze at their backs and quickly took control opening the scoring in the seventh minute.
A well-weighted pass from Daniel Croarkin saw Craig MacEwan hold his run perfectly to beat the Uddingston offside trap and send him through on Kieran Muldoon in goal. MacEwan deftly lobbed the advancing keeper sending the ball bouncing into the unguarded net.
Saints pressed for a second goal straight from the restart with Fraser MacFarlane making good ground on the right and sending over a dangerous cross which Brendan Smith did well to thump out for a throw-in.
From the throw-in on the right Willie Gemmell tried his luck from distance only to see his 25-yard effort deflected behind for a corner kick.
Gemmell did manage to find his way through in the 16th minute with a powerful low drive which smacked Kieran Muldoon’s right hand upright with the keeper rooted to the spot.
The ball cannoned back into the danger area but with too much pace for Daniel Croakin, who was quickly closed down by Brendan Smith allowing Sean Smith to thump clear.
Fraser MacFarlane will feel he should have done better with an excellent 22nd minute chance when a poor first touch let a Lewis Cameron cross from the right get away from him with the goal at his mercy.
Sixty seconds later Uddingston central defender took one for the team when Craig MacEwan’s near post flick from Scott Maitland’s left wing cross caught him square in the face denying the Saints striker a second goal.
The hosts drew level on the half hour mark from the penalty spot after hesitation in the Saints back four allowed Brian McLeod to race into the box where his progress was halted by Ruaridh Horne.
The young Saints fullback protested his innocence but referee Stuart Broadfoot ruled in favour of the Uddingston striker.
Ronan Hughes sent his spot kick to his right, just out of reach of the despairing dive of Graham Douglas, and into the net to level the scores.
Parity lasted just five minutes as Lewis Cameron caught out Kieran Muldoon at his near post with a smart finish to restore the Saints’ lead.
A rampaging left wing run from Scott Maitland had the home defence back pedaling but, cutting inside onto his right foot, the Saints left-back sliced his shot wide of target.
Willie Gemmell took the ball down well inside the centre circle in the 42nd minute and played the ball up to Craig MacEwan.
The Saints centre-forward laid the ball off to Fraser MacFarlane cutting in from the right whose low shot across the keeper slipped wide of the far post.
On the stroke of half-time young Central Scottish Amateur Football League referee Stuart Broadfoot, who handled proceedings well, showed the first yellow card of the match to Uddingston striker Brian McLeod for a late challenge from behind on David Beaton.
Uddingston are top of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Championship A with a 100 per cent record and showed just why they are favourites for a second successive league championship with a much improved second half performance which kept Saints pinned back in their own half for the most part.
As a result of the hosts’ high pressing, Saints’ forays up front were limited with Lewis Cameron sending a dipping free-kick just over the cross-