Further fixture call-offs leave Highland facing "ridiculous" backlog that could drag their season into May
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Head coach Dave Carson fears a backlog of games could damage Highland’s end-of-season prospects after the north derby with Caithness was cancelled on Friday afternoon.
Highland are already three games behind leaders Gordonians and also have a cup final to contest in the second half of the season.
Carson anticipates further call-offs over the winter months, which could push their season into a 10th month by creeping into May.
Caithness notified the Canal Park side on Friday afternoon that they would be unable to fulfil the fixture due to a shortage of front-row players, leaving Highland frustrated at slipping a further match behind in their pursuit of the BT Caledonia League Division One title.
Carson expects Caithness to be punished by the league committee for the postponement but that will be little consolation for him once the fixtures pile up in the new year.
“There will be more cancellations come January and February and I don’t know how they’re going to stack them up when we’ve not got many free Saturdays left,” said a disappointed Carson.
“There’s already some fixtures in the lower leagues pencilled in for May, which is ridiculous if we end up like that.
We’ve got boys that have been training since July and we need to give them some rest and time with their families, for all the effort they have put in.”
Caithness will likely face a points deduction for failing to fulfil the fixture, which was the same punishment meted out to Hillfoots when they called off twice against Highland in October.
Highland drop back to third in the table after a win for Glenrothes, while Gordonians stretched their lead at the top to 10 points with an emphatic dispatching of Mackie Academy.
The Inverness side’s frustration was compounded by the fact the pitch in Thurso was playable despite poor conditions in the Highlands over the weekend.
Instead, the first XV were handed a watching brief with the club’s second team, who defeated their counterparts from Gordonians in Division Three North.
Carson appreciates that call-offs due to travel and weather issues cannot be helped and said there was limited scope for the league committee to pre-empt similar situations in future.
“At this level, when you’re one league below the National League set-up, it’s pretty disappointing that you can’t raise a team,” he said.
“I don’t know what the committee can do apart from deduct points.
“I don’t really deal with them – I leave it to our president Geoff Begg and (chairman) Andy Little.
“If it’s injuries or depth of squad that’s causing an issue, then you have to look at recruitment.
“That’s what we have worked on since we came here.
“Firstly it was about getting enough players to ensure we can fulfil our league fixtures and then trying to build up the second team. That pushes everyone on.”
On Saturday Carnoustie are the visitors to Canal Park they could be in the firing line for a backlash from Carson’s men.
There was better news for the second string as they at last got a home fixture played on Saturday with the visit of Gordonians’ second XV.
A strong squad was assembled, requiring no input from the first XV, but the majority of players had experience of turning out for the greens’ top side.
In good weather and on heavy ground, Highland put in a great performance to run out 55-7 winners.
The team played a high-tempo game with the ball – well won by the forwards – and provided lots of opportunities for the backs to attack and record some impressive scores.
The best of the tries came from Calum McIntosh, Ruaridh Casey and Laurie Cuthbertson, with prop John Wallace putting in a man of the match performance.
This result, along with league leaders Aberdeen University losing to Banff, opens up the title race.
Training at Highland continues to be well attended and very competitive for places, which all bodes well for both squads’ promotion challenges this season.
