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Highland look for a capital performance in Edinburgh


By Will Clark

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HIGHLAND will aim to stay within striking distance of top spot in National One when they head to league leaders Heriot’s Blues in Edinburgh tomorrow.

Highland Rugby Club v Ayr - Canal Park, Inverness...Picture: Callum Mackay..
Highland Rugby Club v Ayr - Canal Park, Inverness...Picture: Callum Mackay..

In their final match of 2021, Highland are in fifth place, but are only four points off top spot in one of the closest title races in years with only seven points separating the top seven.

Highland go into the match in good form having won their last three matches with impressive victories away at Stirling and Ayr, and last weekend’s 32–20 win over Kelso in Inverness.

Manager Dave Carson believes a similar sort of performance from their last three matches will be good enough to beat Heriot’s Blues tomorrow, but is aware of the tough test they face from the league leaders.

“If we can finish off before Christmas with a win at Heriot’s, it will be a nice end to the year.

“We know that we can beat them as we beat them at home by one point earlier this season.

“I think we are playing better rugby now than we did when we beat them in the third game of the season.

“We are playing better rugby and varying our game more at the back.

“Our kicking game has come on and we are running some great lines at the forward and the back.

“We have had a good week’s training and are going down there with a lot of confidence.

“But knowing from our own experience from the defeat against Cartha Queens, we know that we have to be at our best in any game in this league.

“You can’t expect to just turn up and win.

“It has really sank in with the players how much effort it takes to get a victory.”

Carson says Highland have a chance of being contenders to win National One this season due to the title race being so close.

He says some teams have the advantage of more games in hand than other contenders.

But they will stick to keep getting the wins and maintaining the pressure on everyone else in the division.

“Nobody is running away with the league this year as everyone is beating everyone,” says Carson.

“Gala might be in a stronger position that everyone else as they have two games in hand on nearly everyone in the top five and are in third place.

“But I would prefer to have points in the bag and every game is crucial.”


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