Both believe that Saturday's waterlogged surfaces were not playable before they travelled and the cost they racked up could have been avoided.

Lochcarron arrived on Bute only to find the match referee ruled the field unplayable – even though the pitch had been apparently passed fit hours earlier.

Newtonmore's game at Kyles Athletic did start, despite the Badenoch club's manager Brick MacArthur's protests on arrival but had to be abandoned five minutes into the second half with Kyles 1-0 up.

MacArthur said: "It's a disgrace we had to make the trip. As soon as we arrived, we saw the pitch was in a dreadful state and unplayable.

"It cost us several hundred pounds to travel to Tighnabruaich and we're absolutely furious about what was a complete farce. Even the goal that was scored was a farce, as two defenders lost their footing in the boggy conditions."

Lochcarron are also upset about making the trek in vain when the pitch was in no state for play.

The problems appear to have arisen because the new Camanachd Association policy calls for ties at any level to be switched if grounds are ruled unplayable.

When the biggest cup of all is at stake, clubs are naturally desperate to avoid losing home advantage and it is becoming clear that there is a tendency to view the state of home pitches through rose-tinted spectacles to keep home advantage.

With two other matches also rained off, the quarter-final draw is decidedly incomplete with only one clear-cut tie.

Kingussie will be pleased to have a home tie with Lovat on June 6, even if the North First Division side did beat premier league Glenorchy 4-3 after extra time.

A Grant MacPherson hat-trick had Glenorchy leading 3-0 with 25 minutes to go, but a Greg Matheson's double and one from Ewan Ferguson saw the home side pull back to 3-3.

Into extra time, and Ferguson sealed Lovat's stunning comeback with the winner.

It was an easier effort for Kingussie, four goals from Ronald Ross and one from Kevin Thain gave them a 5-1 home win against Caberfeidh.

They had netted through Donald Mellis but the result was never in doubt.

Kinlochshiel continued their splendid form in cup competitions by knocking out Premier side Glen Urquhart 2-1 after extra time at Drumnadrochit.

Scott MacLean scored first for 'Shiel, then Billy Urquhart equalised. There the scores remained until full time and Gordon MacDonald netted the winner 17 minutes into extra time.

In the other game completed, Inveraray travelled to Beauly and won 4-1. All four goals were netted for the visitors by Garry Macpherson, with Jamie MacLennan scoring Beauly's consolation.

The draw for the quarter final of the Camanachd Cup is as follows: Bute or Lochcarron v Inveraray; Kingussie v Lovat; Kinlochshiel v Fort William or Kilmallie and Oban Camanachd or Lochaber v Kyles or Newtonmore.

The ties are scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 6.

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