Draw for 126th Dispatch Trophy sets up tasty ties at Braids
Holders Hailes to face recent two-time winners Duddingston in mouth-watering first-round clash
Defending champions Hailes will face recent two-time winners Duddingston in a mouth-watering first-round clash in the 126th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy at the Braids.
With 38 teams entering the latest edition of the historic team tournament, which is now run by Edinburgh Leisure, 12 sides will be in first-round action early on Saturday, 16 May.
Newcomers Haddington were first out of the hat and they’ll be up against Newbattle team Donuts@The 9th, with either Murrayfield, last year’s beaten finalists, or Hailes B awaiting the winner of that tie later in the day.
Caermount versus Turnhouse is the other first-round match in the top half of the draw, with Kilgour Property Management awaiting the winner.
Hailes, winners for a third time 12 months ago, and Duddingston, who lifted the trophy in both 2023 and 2024, were the next two names to be drawn but that match being in the bottom half.
Watsonians will take on the winner in that one, with Mortonhall versus Kilgour Wealth Management and Heriot’s FP versus Edinburgh Thistle completing the first-round action.
Tasty second-round ties include Harrison B taking on Silverknowes, with those two clubs having faced each other on countless occasions over the years.
Five-time champions Carrickvale, meanwhile, take on Merchants and three-time winnes Harrison are up against Dalmahoy.
It’s good to see a couple of East Lothian clubs involved again, with the flag being flown on this occasion by Kilspindie and Bass Rock. Kilspindie face Riccarton B while Bass Rock’s opening opponents are Braids United.
Clark Technical Consultancy, a new name in the draw, will make a Dispatch Trophy debut against past winners Riccarton A.
Another lip-licking tie will see Edinburgh Leisure taking on Musselburgh Old, which is likely to provide the majority of the eight players involved!
The last-16 matches will be played on Tuesday, 19 May, followed by the quarter-finals on Thursday, 21 May. The semi-finals and final are then scheduled for Saturday, 23 May.
For the second year running, the tournament is being backed by Braid Hills Golf Centre.
Draw
First round
7.00am Haddington v Donuts@The 9th (Newbattle)
7.15am Murrayfield v Hailes B
7.30am Caermount v Turnhouse
7.45am Hailes v Duddingston
8.00am Mortonhall v Kilgour Wealth Management
8.15am Heriot’s FP v Edinburgh Thistle
Second round
8.30am Dalmahoy v Harrison
8.45am Riccarton B v Kilspindie
9.00am Edinburgh Western v Colinton Mains
9.15am Thistle 1870 v Silverknowes B
9.30am Harrison B v Silverknowes
9.45am Riccarton A v Clark Technical Consultancy
10.00am MCBA v Swanston
10.15am Merchants of Edinburgh v Carrickvale
10.30am Edinburgh Leisure v Musselburgh Old
10.45am Bass Rock v Braids United
11.00am Lochend v Stewart’s Melville FP
11.15am Heriot’s Quad v Buckstone
11.30am Haddington or Donuts@19th v Murrayfield or Hailes B
11.45am Caermount or Turnhouse v Kilgour Property Management
Noon Hailes or Duddingston v Watsonians
12.15pm Mortonhall or Kilgour Wealth Management v Heriot’s FP or Edinburgh Thistle