Highland Rugby Club look to record first ever victory away at Biggar to seal fifth place outright in National One
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Fifth place in National One would seem about right for Highland head coach Dave Carson ahead of their final game of the season away at Biggar.
Three consecutive home victories in recent weeks have moved the Canal Park outfit into joint-fifth in the table.
Just a single point, then, against old foes Biggar would see them claim fifth outright. Hartree Mill is a venue Highland have never been victorious at though, so there is plenty of pride on the line for Carson’s men.
“We’re up in joint-fifth at the moment with Kelso, which is really pleasing – if we can get something out of this week at Biggar we’ll go fifth on our own,” he said.
“That’s probably where we are as a squad and as a team this year.
“It’s going to be a tough trip down to Biggar, but it’s the same situation for them. They’re sitting in third at the moment, it’s both of our last games, so the pressure is off everyone.
“It should be a good day of open rugby, which we enjoy playing.
“Their pitch is notorious for having wet, long grass, but it should be okay to play on at this time of the year.
“We’re looking forward to going down there, we’ve come up together through the leagues and we’ve never won at Biggar.
“There have been some close games and some beatings as well, so the guys are really keen to finish the season off with a bang and see if we can get some points down there – and we want to go for a victory.”
This weekend will mark the fourth time Highland will attempt to make the trip to Biggar this season, but that could work in their favour as warmer conditions mean the pitch could suit their style of play more.
“Pitch-wise, we’ve probably got the best time of the year to go down,” Carson reasoned.
“If you don’t get August or September, it’s best to get the end of the season when it’s firm and you can play some good rugby on it.
“Most of the pitches we’re playing on up at this level are good, firm pitches, but there’s still the odd one that gets quite claggy in the middle of winter.
“So to get it just now it will certainly suit us.
“Fair play to Biggar as well, they’ve got a big pack but they do run the ball through the backs as well, so it should be a good game.”
Highland will have a similar squad to last week, when they beat Boroughmuir 40–21, but they will add Grant Jamieson and Patrick Ratumaisese to their ranks, with a late call to be made on Gavin Campbell.
