More frustration for Kingussie as grand slam event postponed
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Kingussie’s bid to clinch the Mowi Premiership title, and a record seventh Grand Slam, was put on hold when their match against Lovat at Balgate was called off in controversial circumstances on Saturday morning.
Lovat ruled that the overnight rain had left their pitch unplayable so the match could not go ahead and they cited player safety as a consideration.
Kingussie manager John Gibson, who cut short a family holiday abroad to arrive home the day before the game, said: “The first I knew that there was a problem was a text from Lovat at 10.40am on Saturday morning to say the game was off as Balgate was unplayable.
“By that time, we had our players organised and Louis Munro had travelled from Stranraer and had reached as far as Perth for what turned out to be a wasted journey that he could have well done without.
“Someone from our club went through to Balgate and the pitch looked perfectly playable to us. We made contact with Lovat and the Camanachd Association and offered to play the game later in the day or even on the Sunday as we felt Balgate was 100 per cent playable, but without any joy. We’re also unaware of any efforts for the match to go ahead at an alternative venue.”
Similarly, Kinlochshiel made moves to have their league meeting with Glasgow Mid Argyll switched to Inverness when their Rèaraig pitch was deemed unplayable.
Gibson added: “It now looks as if the game will take place on Saturday, November 12 which just extends the season for everyone.”
The reason for the mid-November date is Lovat’s next three fixtures see them visit Glasgow Mid Argyll on Saturday, Kinlochshiel at Rèaraig the week after and Glasgow Mid Argyll at Balgate on Saturday, November 5.
Next up for Kingussie is a trip to Mossfield to play Oban Camanachd and Gibson said: “This will be a tough match as Oban Camanachd are a good team.
“We’ll prepare for facing them at their best so we will need to be at our best and we’ll use the circumstances surrounding last Saturday’s postponement to fire the boys up.”
With boss Gareth Evans on holiday, Oban Camanachd assistant manager Iain MacMillan remains in charge for the Kingussie game, and he has players back for the visit from the league leaders.
He said: “Daniel Cameron, David Cameron, Craig Easton and Evan MacLellan will all be available again whilst Malcolm Clark is fit and only missed the Newtonmore game due to a family bereavement.
“With their match against Lovat being called off last Saturday, Kingussie will be after the points to clinch the title but it’s up to us to try and spoil the party. The weather forecast is good,” he added.
