22 SPORT
Scotland victory ‘feels like such a high’
Fans pay tribute to
‘Mr Hibs’ Frank Dougan
who passed recently A new range of
FX2 fly rods
By NIGEL DUNCAN
INVERNESS-BASED Mackenzie Fly
Fishing have launched a new FX2 range
of fly rods which are available as from
today. The rods are made from the
lightest, strongest material known to
man and the Scottish company were one
of the first in the world to introduce
graphene into their fly rods.
They are recognised as world-leaders
in tackle design and their talented team
has over 150 years of experience and
Scott Mackenzie said they make tackle
designed by fishermen for fishermen.
The new range, he added, uses the
latest aero-space carbons and there FX
graphene technology for rods which are
said to be amongst the lightest and
strongest on the market.
The new rods flex deeper and provide
a more progressive action the Mackenzie
FX graphene technology creates a faster
rod tip speed, if the tip moves faster
then your line goes faster and further.
The businessman said: “We put a lot of
time and effort into the action and
cosmetics of the rod we use the best
Portuguese cork for the handle and the
custom-made reel seat allows the fly reel
to sit perfectly on the rod. Titanium eyes
are also featured throughout.” There is a
full range off double and single handed
rods starting from £749.00
Trade to finish and the Rio Midge Tip
was introduced 20 years ago but the new
series is said to offer increased versatility.
Cameron Allan
Bye to Big Frank
By JOHN HISLOP
THOUSANDS OF tributes have poured in for
Mr Hibs ‘Big Frank’ Dougan who died recently.
Frank was the driving force behind the
Hibernian Supporters Association and the
Hibernian Supporters Club, and for several
years served as a Non-Executive Director
elected by fellow fans.
When Hibs finally won The Scottish Cup,
Frank made sure as many fans as possible got
to see the famous old trophy up close.
He also played a vital role in the ‘Hands
Off Hibs’ campaign.
Following an emergency supporters’ club
meeting and alongside other supporters,
Frank gathered more than 200,000
signatures that were delivered to Tynecastle
and Margaret Thatcher in Downing Street to
stop Wallace Mercer’s takeover bid in 1990.
He was a regular figure at the Sunnyside
premises of the Hibernian Supporters Club
where he was a long-serving Treasurer and
Trustee, and his long service to fans was
recognised when he was made an Honorary
President of Hibernian Supporters Association.
Frank was a lifelong Hibee, but the depth of
the connection he felt with Hibernian ran even
deeper than that.
In a rare interview some time before the 2016
final he said: “My great grandfather was one of
the members of the Catholic Young Men’s
Society that founded Hibs, he wasn't part of the
Hibs team, but he was part of the Catholic
Young Men's Society that founded Hibernian
Football Club.
“My great-grandfather, my grandfather,
my father, my brothers, my nephews. There's
no choice.
“My first Hibs game - I was 18 months old.
My mother was heavily pregnant with my
brother and my father was told to look after me,
so he took me to Easter Road.
“We beat Partick 2-1, not that I remember
anything of the game. The first time I can
remember was crying my eyes out at Hampden
at the ‘58 Cup Final against Clyde.
“I thought all we had to do was turn up to
beat them. We got beat 1-0, my dad told me at
that point ‘Don't worry, there's plenty time, we'll
win it one day.’
“Now, my dad's been dead a number of years
and he never saw it. I just hope that one day...”
Big Frank
By NIGEL DUNCAN
PLAYERS HUGGED, the bench
rushed onto the pitch, and over
3,500 celebrated at the DAM Health
Stadium as Scotland kept their cool
despite an Italian comeback to earn
their first victory in this season’s
TikTok Women’s Six Nations.
The 29-21 win, helped by two
tries each from Lana Skeldon and
Leah Bartlett, snapped a 12-match
losing run, but a red card in the
second half to an Italian substitute,
who had only joined the action
minutes earlier, certainly helped
their cause against plucky visitors
who were only 10-7 adrift at
half-time. This memorable result
followed heavy defeats to England
and France and a home reverse to
Wales, and Christine Belisle said
that after a lot of low lows this feels
like such a high”.
She added: “It’s an incredible
feeling. Italy put up a fight and this
(victory) was well earned.”
Scotland made a solid start and
earned their reward when Louise
McMillan broke the deadlock. The
Italians, who beat Ireland on their
last outing, hardly helped their
cause by making early mistakes,
but they regrouped and Alyssa
d’Inca hacked forward. As the wing
attempted to gather the ball it
slipped agonisingly from her grasp.
The chance had gone.
The world’s No 5 ranked nation
picked themselves up to edge
ahead with a Giada Franco try and
Michela Sillari conversion. Italy lock
Giordana Duca was yellow carded
and then Lana Skeldon pounced,
touching down to give Scotland a
three-point cushion at the break.
This was a massive boost and
Scotland kicked-on when Lisa
Thomson fed Leah Bartlett who
stretched over from close in.
Bartlett added another thanks to a
rolling maul. Nelson converted on
her 50th cap to increase the
scoreline to 24-7 but Italy refused
to buckle. They had the crowd on
the edge of their seats with an
impressive comeback.
Tounesi scored a try to
kick-start the momentum swing.
Full-back Minuzzi broke free slicing
through the Scots defence to
find Vecchini who touched down
under the posts for 24-21 in a
nerve-jangling finish.