Basketball: Kirkpatrick helps Students stage amazing fightback

Edinburgh University enjoyed a double triumph over the much-vaunted Leeds Carnegie men's and women's teams in the Northern Premier Division of the British Universities basketball championship at the Pleasance.

Spurred on by 32 points from Edinburgh Kings' shooting guard Mike Kirkpatrick, who was making his first appearance for the university, the men came from 12 points down to lash Leeds 76-56 in a major upset.

Another Kings player Liam McCabe, back at Edinburgh for a second degree, grabbed a big share of the rebounds against the much bigger visitors who are coached by English Universities coach Matt Newby.

The "royal" connection did not end there for Edinburgh have a new coaching team this season, Jim Wright, the Kings junior men's coach, and Lee "Chopper" Pettett, the Kings centre.

"Our biggest problem will be getting our strongest teams out for the away games as many of them don't want to travel," said Pettett.

EU women, in the premier division for the first time, also have a new coach, Jim Mitchell, the sharp-shooting former Dalkeith Saint and Scottish internationalist whose daughters Cathy and Ali both play for the team and they won 73-68 in possibly an even bigger upset than the men's.

Vet student Mike Kirkpatrick could well end up in the Scottish Universities team to play England and the other Home Nations in Northern Ireland next April.

But first he faces another student team tomorrow when Kings travel to play one of the rookie teams of the Scottish League, Glasgow University at the Stevenson Building (3.30pm).

Fury meanwhile entertain East Lothian Peregrines at the Mariner tonight (8pm).

Peregrines hope to have Swedish centre Rob Jansson back after he missed last weekend's home game with Troon due to attending another wedding, his second of the season so far.

Former Scottish Rocks and Wester Hailes player Mike McGregor top-scored for EL with 19 points and is proving a useful addition to the Musselburgh men's line-up.

Polonia Phoenix, like Kings, have a strong university connection in the shape of the Mitchell sisters and should win comfortably at home on Sunday at a new venue, Currie High School (2pm).