FOOTBALL Saturday 21

PREMIER LEAGUE

I Duntermline v Airdrie East End Park, Dunfermline. 3pm.

I Hibs V Falkirtt Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road, Edinburgh. 3pm.

I Motherwell v Aberdeen Fir Park. Motherwell. 3pm.

I Rangers v Dundee Utd lbrox Stadium. Glasgow. 3pm.

I St Mirren V Hearts Love Street, Paisley. 3pm.

FIRST DIVISION

I Dundee v Ayr United Dens Park, Sandeman Street, Dundee. 3pm.

I Kilmamoclt v Montrose Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. 3pm.

I Meadowbank Thistle v Morton Meadowbank Stadium, London Road, Edinburgh. 3pm.

I Particit Thistle v Raith Rovers Firhill, Firhill Road, Glasgow. 3pm.

I Stirling Albion v Hamilton Annfield, Stirling. 3pm.

Saturday 28

PREMIER LEAGUE

3pm.

I Hibs V Dundee Utd Easter Road Stadium, Albion Road, Edinburgh. 3pm.

I Rangers v Duntennline lbrox Stadium, Glasgow. 3pm.

I St Mirren V Pallrirtt Love Street, Paisley. 3pm.

FIRST DIVISION

I Ayr V Raith Rovers Somerset Park. Somerset Road, Ayr. 3pm.

I Clydebanlt V Montrose Kilbowie Park, Clydebank. 3pm.

I Dundee V Hamilton Dens Park, Sandeman Street. Dundee. 3pm.

I Meadowbank Thistle v Kilmarnoclt Meadowbank Stadium. London Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.

I Particit Thistle v Stirling Albion Firhill, Firhill Road, Glasgow. 3pm.

Wednesday 1

PREMIER LEAGUE

l I Celtic v Rangers Celtic Park, Gallowgate, lGlasgow. 3pm. Hately, McCoist and co should prove a little too much to handle for their neighbours.

I Dundee Utd V Aberdeen Tannadice Park. Tannadice Street. Dundee. 3pm.

I Duniermline v St Johnstone East End Park, Dunfermline. 3pm.

I Falkirlthirdrie Brockville, Falkirk. 3pm. I Hearts V Hibernian Tynecastle Park, Gorgie Road, Edinburgh. 3pm. Two surprise teams this season with Hibs holding their own and Hearts looking set to win the title (but then, remember ‘86). I Motherwell v St Mirren Fir Park, Motherwell. 3pm.

FIRST DIVISION

I Hamilton V Particlt Thistle Douglas Park, Hamilton. 3pm.

I Kilmamoclt v Ayr United Rugby Park. Kilmamock. 3pm.

I Morton v Clydebanlt Cappielow Park, Greenock. 3pm.

I Raith Rovers v Dundee Stark‘s Park, Pratt Street, Kirkcaldy. 3pm.

I Stirling Albion v Meadowbank Annfield, Stirling. 3pm.

I Airdrie V Motherwell Brooml'ield, Airdrie.

With memories oi the Rugby World Cup still trash in everybody's memory, the Five-Nations championship will be getting underway in a month's time. The ionner event, with the tlair ot Campese, extensive TV coverage and the presence oi two home teams Scotland and England in the latter stages, certainly did much to raise the protile oi the game.

Scotland’s pertormance was a surprise to the many who had viewed their backs as little more than competent tacklers and their forwards as too slight to wrestle with the built at England and Western Samoa. Alter the glories (in all but that appalling semi-final which was strangled by England) several oi the stars at the Scottish game over the last decade decided to hang up their international boots. Obviously the most gaping hole is on the flanks with both Finlay Calder and John Jettrey calling it a day.

This means that one 01 the most interesting games at the season may not be an international at all, but the International Trial which is to be played at the beginning 01 January. There is always the chance tor those just out oi the international team to prove themselves during this match, but this year that is the case even more, with virtually the entire Scottish back row up tor grabs. Another position which may well be tought tor is tall back, in which

TRIAL PREPARATION A!

i.

Gavin Hastings could be playing for his international place at Murrayfield

Gavin Hastings could tace a renewed challenge from tormer international Peter Dods, who is enjoying some at the best torm at his career with league-leaders Gala. Expect to see both players hoisting many a high ball to each other.

Another match over the New Year period should prove to be a less hard-tought battle when Scotland take on another one ot those emerging European nations- Spain. Although not a lull international, Scotland are promising to tield a strong team and, ii a player can make his name here, who knows he could be the next John Jettrey. And Scotland could certainly do with one 01 those. (Philip Parr) Scotland v Spain, Murrayfield, Saturday 28 December.

International Trial, Murrayfield,

Saturday 4 January.

Saturday 4

PREMIER LEAGUE

I Airdrie V Rangers Broomfield. Airdrie. 3pm.

I Celtic V Hearts Celtic Park, Gallowgate, Glasgow. 3pm.

I Falkirit V Dundee Utd Brockville, Falkirk. 3pm.

I Hibs V Duntermline Easter Road Stadium,

Albion Road, Edinburgh. 3pm.

FIRST DIVISION

I Ayr V Stirling Albion Somerset Park, Somerset Road, Ayr. 3pm.

I Clydebanltv Meadowbanlt Kilbowie Park, Clydebank. 3pm.

I Dundee v Particlt Thistle Dens Park, Sandeman Street, Dundee. 3pm.

I Morton v Montrose (Tappiclow Park, Greenock. 3pm.

I Raith Rovers v Hamilton Stark‘s Park, Pratt Street, Kirkcaldy. 3pm.

Saturday 11

PREMIER LEAGUE

I Dundee Utd V Airdrie Tannadice Park, Tannadice Street, Dundee. 3pm.

I Duntennline v Falkirtt East End Park, Dunfermline. 3pm

I Hearts v Aberdeen Tynecastle Park, Gorgie Road, Edinburgh. 3pm.

I Motherwell V Celtic Fir Park, Motherwell. 3pm.

I Rangersv Hibs lbrox Stadium, Glasgow. 3pm.

I St Mirren v St Johnstone Love Street, Paisley. 3pm.

FIRST DIVISION

I Hamilton V Ayr Douglas Park. Hamilton. 3pm.

I Meadowbanlt Thistle v Foriar Meadowbank Stadium, London Road, Edinburgh. 3pm.

I Partick Thistle V Clydebanlt Firhill, Firhill Road, Glasgow. 3pm.

Sat 21/Fri 3fThurs 9

E I Edinburgh Musselburgh Racecourse,

l

Musselburgh. Club £8. paddock £4. First races at 12.20pm. Three meetings, all over the sticks, at the seaside course.

Thursday 2

I Ayr Ayr Racecourse, 2 Whitletts Road,

Ayr. Club £8, Eglinton £5. First race at

3 12.30pm. Tel: 0292 264179.

l

' ICE HOCKEY

Sunday 29

I Murrayfield Racers v Dillingham Bombers Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Crescent, Edinburgh. 6.30pm. £4.50 (£3).

Sunday 5

I Murrayfield Racers v Nottingham Panthers

Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Crescent, Edinburgh. 6.30pm. £4.50 (£3).

Sunday 12

I Murrayfield Racers v Peterborough Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Crescent, Edinburgh. 6.30pm. £4.50 (£3).

RUGBY Saturday 21

McEWAN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 I Boroughmuir v Gala Meggetland. Colinton Road, Edinburgh. 2pm. Champions against champions-elect, if you believe all you read about Gala.

I Currie V Selkirk Malleny Park, Balerno. 2 m.

I Edinburgh Academicals v Stirling County Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh. 2pm. The Accies continue to out-score everyone else in the league, if they can tighten up their defence, the title could well be theirs.

I Glasgow High/Kelvinside v Jed-Forest Old Anniesland, Crow Road, Glasgow. 2pm. I Heriot's FP V Hawiclt Goldenacre, Bangholm Terrace, Edinburgh. 2pm.

I Watsonians v Melrose Myrcside, Myrcside Road, Edinburgh. 2pm.

I West oi Scotland v Stewart's Melville Burnbrae, Milngavie, Glasgow. 2pm. McEVlAN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 I Edinburgh Wanderers v Peebles Murrayfield, Corstorphine, Edinburgh. 2pm.

I Kirkcaldy v Dundee H.S. F.P Beveridgc Park, Balwearie Road, Kirkcaldy. 2pm. I Musselburgh v Glasgow Acads Stoneyhill. Stoneyhill Farm Road, Musselburgh. 2pm.

I Preston Lodge F? v Duntennline Pennypit Park, Rope Walk, Prestonpans. 2pm.

I Royal High v Corstorphine Barnton. East Barnton Avenue, Edinburgh. 2pm.

Saturday 28

I Scotland 8 v Ireland 8 and Scotland A v Spain Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. At noon, the Scots take on the might of Spain and, although the game does not count as a full international and no caps will be awarded, we are promised by the SRU that it will be a very high quality Scottish team on display. Nevertheless, the B international against the Irish may prove to be a more entertaining contest. See panel.

Saturday 4

INTERNATIONAL TRIAL

I Possibies V Probables Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. The annual curtain-raiser to the Five-Nations Championship which nearly always sees the best-laid plans of the coach shattered by a superb performance from the Possibles. See panel.

Saturday 11

McEWAH'S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 I Stewart's/Melville FP v Doroughmuir lnverleith, Ferry Road, Edinburgh. 2pm.

MOEWAN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 2

I Corstorphine v Kilmamocli Union Park, North Saughton Road, Edinburgh. 2pm. I Glasgow Academicals v Royal High New Anniesland, Helensburgh Drive, Glasgow. 2pm.

The List 20 December 1991 - 16 January 1992 73