The Edinburgh Reporter May 2023

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.