Shinty on Skye - Portree in Motion

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 13 April 2019 at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree, Skye
Result	Skye 0 Lovat 0
Competition	Camanachd (Shinty) Association North Division 1 (3rd tier of the game in Scotland)
Hopstats	Number 1 on my list of shinty grounds!
Context
This is a game between the second teams of the two clubs.  Skye's 1st team play in the 2nd tier, and Lovat's in the 1st tier.
In one sentence
I cannot really claim to be a valid judge here, but neither team looked like scoring.
So what?
Lovat's point takes them to the top of the division although they have played more games than rivals just below.  Skye stay eighth (of eleven).
Match Report
To this inexpert observer, defences were on top.  Lovat seemed to have the better of the first half, with at least two chances whizzing past the post at head height with the keeper beaten.  Skye were much improved after the break but created no clear-cut chance.  The majority of the game was a hard fought battle in midfield and at the defensive lines.  Here's what I learned: The game is played over two halves of 45 minutes.  Players seemed to have set positions and quite often they would be waiting in opposing pairs in their designated zone when play was at the other end of the field.  There are goalkeepers.  Free hits and corners worked as a soccer fan would expect.  The object of the game is to hit the ball into the goals. The game starts with the throw-up. From then on it appears to be carnage with technical rules.  It is a contact sport.  The ball can be played both in the air and on the ground with either side of the stick.  It would be foul play to hack down on the opponent's stick.  Other than that it seemed that anything reasonable is allowed! Instead of throw-ins, play restarts when the ball has gone out over the sideline with a "shy".  The player throws the ball vertically and then uses the stick somewhat like a tennis player's serve to send the ball back into play. The ball, which resembles a cricket ball or baseball, is made of leather pieces sewn round a cork core.  When watching the game, pay attention - it would hurt if you got hit.  At one point a stick was dislodged from a passing player and flew past my nose before I could react.  There was spectator chat about the fact that there'd "only been one broken thumb today". All in all I am very happy to be adding shinty to my list of live sporting action and I recommend it to all hoppers looking for a break from football!
Pix
Lovat in white.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
There are goalkeepers in shinty but I have decided to protect whatever scrap of statistical credibility remains in this blog but NOT including them here, despite two clean sheets!
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter!  Heading down to the south of the island for more Amateur League football at Kyleakin.