There’s ’More to come for Kings
KINGUSSIE BOSS Steve Borthwick has claimed that rivals Newtonmore will have the tag of favourites when the two teams meet for the Camanachd Cup next month.
Both Borthwick and his opposite number, Norman MacArthur, played in the teams which last met in the showpiece final in 1997, when the Kings handed out a 12-1 drubbing at Fort William.
Borthwick said: “We could see before the game back then that the Newtonmore players were really nervous and they froze on the day.
“But this time I reckon they will start as favourites because of all the talent at their disposal.”
The Red and Blues have a whole month to get some of their key players back from injury including Louis Munro, Ian Borthwick and Ally MacLeod.
Borthwick said: “We will be really competitive on the day, and it’s what people in Badenoch will be talking about for weeks.”
Kingussie and Kilmallie had to take to the field at Spean Bridge 15 minutes late due to the extra time that was played in the earlier semi.
And knowing that it would be the Blue and Whites waiting for them in the final on September 17 at the Bught Park in Inverness provided an extra spur if any was needed for Kingussie.
Borthwick had played Ronald Ross in defence the previous week – mainly to avoid chance of injury.
He was back at full forward for the semi, with Craig Dawson out on the right wing, to reinforce that Kingussie meant business.
Battling Kilmallie held on right through a goalless first half before the floodgates opened.
During the first period Martin Dallas, coming in from the left wing, rattled the post, and Kevin Toye in the Kilmallie goal pulled off several good saves. Ross squirmed through in the 20th minute to create enough room for a shot that Toye had to volley save at shoulder height and to his right.
A few minutes later, and Andrew Borthwick was called upon to make a couple of good saves.
Just before the half ended, it was Thain’s turn to stretch the Kilmallie keeper, with a superb shot from a 30 degree angle coming in from the left wing, that Toye did well to parry.
The second half, though, was an entirely different matter, with Ross lashing home a wonderful hat-trick with his goals coming in the 46th, 50th and 52nd minutes.
Then Craig Dawson netted number four in the 58th minute to make the going easy.
The hard working, and often under-rated, Fraser Munro got a deserved counter in the 70th minute to make it five, before the indomitable Ross grabbed another on 82 minutes to leave Kingussie deservedly through to the final for what is sure to be an epic battle.