Carson wants Highland to fly out of the blocks as new season begins
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FLYING out of the blocks will be key if Highland are to mount another challenge for the BT Caledonia League Division One title.
Dave Carson’s side fell agonisingly short of eventual winners Orkney in April and the head coach is looking for his side to rack up the wins early in the season to keep them on track.
Strathmore are their first opponents on the road tomorrow. They provided Highland with a difficult test on the championship run-in last season. The month is completed with a trip to newly-promoted Carnoustie before a BT Caledonia Shield contest against Harris Academy.
Aspirations are high at Canal Park after coming so close to promotion to the National League setup in the last campaign. Carson’s focus will be on a month at a time but sees key momentum to be gained early on.
*“We had a slow start last year but this year we’re starting on the back of a great pre-season. The boys look really fit, which is thanks to Colin Baillie and Andy Begg, and we had a great result against Perthshire in our final pre-season game a fortnight ago,” said Carson, who can count on the return of experienced backs Tam Magowan, who missed last season through injury, and former coach Morris Dillon this year.
“We can’t wait to get into the action now. Once the league starts it’s a whole different ball-game. It’s not going to be easy but we need to keep winning throughout the first month then kick on.”
The Canal Park club will expect to be among the contenders for the league crown again but they are not alone. Gordonians, who were overthrown 22-15 in a dramatic title-chasing encounter in Inverness in March, will be strong again while Dunfermline, relegated from National League Three last season, will be keen for a first-time return.
An increase in numbers in pre-season will only boost Highland’s chances, said Carson, as the club are now able to field two full teams in the Caledonia set-up. Highland’s second XV will take part in Division Three North, two steps below the first team, and presents an opportunity for Carson to evaluate potential recruits for his side and get injured players much-needed game-time.
“The second XV have got 22 fixtures and it’s a real boost having them playing every weekend. We should have no problems getting two teams out,” said Carson. “We’ve got a big squad and at times, it’s sometimes a struggle to get everyone games.
“Those who aren’t training hard enough to be in the first team will play for the seconds and vice-versa. It gives guys a chance to step up. They’ll be playing derbies with Inverness Craig Dunain this season too, which is always interesting!”
The third-year head coach has three injury absentees for the trip to Forfar. Props Johnny Milton (wrist) and Stuart Watson (ankle) will sit out the league opener, with Carson not expecting to have Milton back before Christmas.
Murdo Paterson and Stephen Murray come in to fill the front row vacancies. Number eight Stuart MacDonald is also out although the capable Andrew Findlater will take his place from the flank and Nathan McLaughlan will come in.
Strathmore came sixth last season and ran Carson’s side close in the penultimate game of last season, eventually being overrun 38-29 by the title-chasing side. Form favours the Highlanders however, who have not lost a league game since November 2014, an away game against eventual champions Orkney.
“We had a tough game against them at the end of last season. They’re very strong up front but not so much in behind. I imagine it’ll be the same again,” said Carson. “They might be short of players like a few teams down there. It’s a late harvest this year and I believe there’s quite a few farmers in their team.
“Getting Morris, Tam and Andrew Findlater back gives us bags of experience for the young guys we blooded last year to learn from. We’ll try to get the ball to the backs as quickly as possible and get forward.”
Highland’s entire junior section embarks on a new junior rugby setup as they participate in the new President’s Conference. This weekend the juniors take on West of Scotland. The under-18s match kicks-off on Saturday at 2pm with the squad still evolving as new players join a mix of existing and promoted players.
Coaches Hugh Mackintosh, Andy Sutherland and Roy Dinnes have a good track record at this level, yet they know they have a tricky job on their hands to guide the squad to emulate the squads of the previous two seasons.
On Sunday the remaining four junior sides are in action with the under-16s and under-15s playing West of Scotland at Canal Park, while the under-14s and under-13s make the trip to West’s home at Burnbrae in Milngavie.
