Svend Pederson makes instant impact on return to shinty
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The Kingussie second team’s HIS Sutherland Cup tie with their Glenurquhart counterparts at the Dell on Saturday was always going to be a good gauge of the team’s progress against a side who went into the tie level on points with Mowi North Division 1 leaders Newtonmore.
This was a really good, old-fashioned cup-tie with both sides giving 100 per cent in what were very testing conditions due to a very strong wind and heavy rain showers.
None-the-less, the players on show kept the crowd entertained from start to finish.
Kingussie won the toss and went against the wind in the first half and, as expected, their defence was under the cosh at times, but Jack Nelson and Sam Thain were having great games alongside the experienced James Hutchison and Fraser Munro.
Glenurquhart’s chances were limited, and the home side created a couple of opportunities without either goalkeeper being really tested.
Kingussie lost Somhairle Fraser after half-an-hour with the recurrence of ankle injury and Macleod Dawson took his place at wing centre.
Half time came with the score at 0-0.
Kingussie replaced wing forward Rory Munro with Miko Berowski for the second half and he immediately made his presence felt with a couple of powerful runs.
On 57 minutes, Svend Pederson replaced Toby Thain in the other wing forward position.
Pederson previously played for Kingussie at both under-14 and under-17 levels but has played rugby with Highland for the last few years.
Just a minute later, Pederson marked his return to the shinty pitch when his first touch took him past the Glen full back and with his second touch, he slotted the ball past the keeper to claim the opening goal of the game.
Quite a return.
Kingussie were winning the midfield battles with Macleod Dawson, Paul Gow and Callum Moneagle providing the home forwards with more ball.
Powerful runs from Miko Berowski and Svend Pederson were causing the Glen problems and Michael Slimon and Robert Shiells came more into the game.
Glenurquhart introduced experienced player / manager Eddie Tembo at full back and moved Michael Fraser to full centre in an effort to get back into the match.
But it was Kingussie who struck again on 71 minutes when a ball from Callum Moneagle on the left was helped towards goal by Robert Shiells. Miko Berowski was on hand to pounce at the edge of the box to lash a backhand strike high into the net to make it 2-0.
Glenurquhart did not give up though and Oliver Black fired them back into the game on 85 minutes with his shot flying past Hayden Taylor-Ramsey in the Kingussie goal.
Just when it looked as if the home support would be in for a nervy final few minutes, Robert Shiells slotted the third goal home with a great finish from the edge of the box to make the final score 3-1.
Only two HIS Sutherland Cup first round ties went ahead at the weekend and the other was between Boleskine and the Inverness second team at Smith Park.
Inverness won 2-1 and now host Kingussie in the second round at the Bught Park on Saturday 11 May 2024.
The Kingussie seconds welcome the Caberfeidh seconds to the Dell in a Mowi North 2 match on Saturday.
