Report for NT 3rd Feb' 12

Farr High School  0-5  Kinlochbervie High School

The second Sutherland shinty derby of the season took place in Bettyhill on Saturday afternoon. The settled conditions of the previous week had allowed the Farr school pitch to dry up sufficiently for shinty to be played. The good weather continued into the weekend to make for ideal overhead conditions too. Having won the first encounter back in October Kinlochbervie came to Farr full of confidence, while their Bettyhill rivals were out for revenge.

With a healthy turnout of supporters in attendance, the opening half of the match was well balanced with play flowing in both directions. Captains Ruraidh Macleod for Farr, and Donald 'Dodie' Mackay for Kinlochbervie, worked hard in midfield to open up scoring opportunities for both sets of forwards. The biggest round of applause of the afternoon went to Farr goalkeeper, Connor Cook, when he stopped a twenty yard shot in mid-air with his stick and somehow diverted it over the crossbar. The deadlock was finally broken after 38 minutes when Matthew Hathaway pounced on an opportunity yards from the Farr goal to give Kinlochbervie the half time advantage.

The second half continued like the first, but Kinlochbervie looked the more menacing team. Dodie Mackay continued his practice of shooting from the centre line inwards, while fellow midfielder Billy Corbett worked tirelessly in creating opportunities for his side. Farr central defender, Matthew Mackay, worked equally hard in marshalling his defence and staving off the Kinlochbervie forward line. However, the floodgates finally opened between the eleventh and fifteenth minute when the ball hit the back of the Farr net three times, from Jack Hatherall, young Fraser MacDonald and a second goal by Matthew Hathaway. A further goal from Jack Hatherall on 23 minutes killed of any hopes of a Farr recovery. Farr fought on bravely in search of a consolation goal, but big hitter, Iain Allison, and his defence proved too much for them to break down.  

Golden Ball Winner : Billy Corbett

Picture below shows the two teams before throw-up.