After a dramatic first weekend, the Mowi Premiership continues this Saturday. Newtonmore welcome Kyles Athletic to The Eilan and to preview this game, we caught up with Newtonmore Captain, Drew MacDonald.

 

Drew, a new season is upon us, you were recently named Newtonmore Captain, just how did you feel when you were told and what is it like leading the team out?

Delighted it’s finally my turn to captain the team. It’s a great honour and privilege to lead the side out every Saturday. 

A tough result for you guys on Saturday up in Skye, what did you make of the game and what have you learned for the next game?

Extremely tough game in Portree last Saturday and bitterly disappointed with the result. It was a very physically demanding game and fairplay to Skye they ground out the win but yeah gutted to come off the Island with no points.  We can’t dwell on the result as we are heading straight back into an equally as tough game this week.

Speaking of the next game, it doesn’t get any easier for you as Kyles Athletic travel to The Eilan, they had a good year in the league last year, what kind of challenge do you think they will bring?

Yet another really tough fixture for us this Saturday! Kyles finished last season really strongly so they will be looking to start the same way they left off. Expecting a well drilled and highly motivated Kyles team to come to the Eilan. We will certainly be looking for a reaction after last week so it should be a really good game. 

It’s been a few seasons without 1st team silverware in Newtonmore (admittedly after an incredible half a decade before) what are the goals for the team this time round?

Yeah it’s been far too long for a club like Newtonmore to go without silverware so we will be looking to amend that but It’s certainly not going to be easy as every club chasing silverware looks really strong. I think this could be one of the most competitive seasons to date.  We have gone through a few transitional years so there are a lot of new faces in the team that haven’t really experienced a good cup run so it would be nice to change that.