IS PREMIER LEAGUE UPSIDE DOWN?

Heading into the second week of the 2012 shinty season, the premier league has a kinda upside down, topsy-turvy look to it.


The Badenoch big guns were silenced by Lovat and Kinlochshiel, who ventured to the home turf of reigning champions Newtonmore and Kingussie respectively - and had the temerity to come away with well-deserved victories. Newly-promoted Kinlochshiel is a side to watch this year, and Lovat's young squad is learning all the time.
The weather influenced the opening day, unsurprisingly. This is a winter start to the summer shinty season, after all. Towards the wild, wet west coast, a number of matches were switched, while the all-Argyll encounter between Inveraray and Kyles Athletic, due to be played at Aray's Winterton Park, had to be postponed.
As it stands, Lovat proudly sit at the summit of the (newly re-branded) Orion Premiership, with Kinlochshiel second and Glenurquhart, who had a 3-2 win over Kilmallie, in third spot.
In the opening day's remaining premiership fixture, Fort William were held to a draw by Bute - the islanders having returned refreshed from a season in south division one.
The weather's not looking too promising in the west for the forthcoming second round, but I'm looking forward to it nonetheless.