Kingussie boss Borthwick says season opener will be tricky test for his side
Champions Kingussie open the defence of their Mowi Premiership trophy with a match against newly promoted Beauly at the Dell when the new shinty season gets underway on March 1
They follow that up a week later with a trip to Skye, with the Kings the only team to take points off the Islanders on their own field last season.
With Skye on the road against Lovat on the opening day of the season, the meeting with Kingussie could be their first match in front of their new 100-seater stand, erected in memory of club legend Donnie Martin.
The Red and Blues then host Lovat, now managed by former Lovat and Skye player Iain Nicolson, in mid-match before making the short journey to the Eilan for the first Badenoch derby of the season on Saturday 22 March.
The month ends with the opening round of the MacTavish Cup with the draw yet to be made.
Kingussie manager Iain Borthwick said: “Beauly have caused us problems before, and everyone remembers the tie in the Scottish a couple of years ago.
“It’s their first game after promotion and they’ll be up for it. We won’t be underestimating anyone though and Beauly are in the Premiership for a reason.
“It’s good to start the season at home and I can’t wait for it all to begin.”
New Newtonmore manager Peter Ross begins his league campaign with a trip to Castle Leod to take on a Caberfeidh side who finished second in shinty’s top-flight last season in what looks like the opening day’s match of the day.
‘More play their first match at The Eilan a week later when newly promoted Mowi National Division champions Fort William visit.
The Blue and Whites trail west on Saturday 22 March with a fixture against Kinlochshiel whilst they await the MacTavish Cup first round draw for their end of the month tie.
Peter Ross said: “That’s a hard game to start with. Cabers finished above us last season so the pressure is on them.
The Newtonmore and Kingussie second teams also learned their commitments and ‘More, now managed by Norman Campbell, begin their Mowi North Division 1 campaign against Glengarry at The Eilan on March 1.
‘More finished third in the league last year and they are on the road a week later when they face Fort William at An Aird.
Newtonmore welcome the Kinlochshiel colts on Saturday 15 March and make the short journey to The Dell a week later for a second team derby.
‘More end the month by welcoming Glenurquhart.
After winning Mowi North Division 2 last season, the Kingussie second team open their North 1 programme against the Beauly second team at Braeview Park on the opening day.
The young Kings play Skye Camanachd at The Dell a week later with the Islanders finishing runners-up in all three competitions last season.
The Lovat second team’s decision to drop down to Mowi North Division 2, incurring an eight-point deduction in the process, means North 1 is a nine-team league so one team is without a fixture each week and it is the Kings turn to miss out on Saturday 15 March.
The reserve team derby against Newtonmore is up next at The Dell before Kingussie complete the month with a journey to Craigard to face Glengarry.
