Highland looking to take final opportunity to shine
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TWELVE months ago, Highland found themselves facing up to relegation after a season to forget.
Now, the city club stand on the verge of a completing a memorable treble.
Highland go into tomorrow’s RBS Bowl final as Caledonia League Division Two North champions and North Bowl winners.
Who they will play, however, will only have become known last night after St Boswells, who Highland were originally due to face until they were thrown out of the competition by the Scottish Rugby Union for fielding an ineligible player, opted to appeal that decision. Should they fail, however, Glenrothes will take their place.
No matter the outcome of the above, Highland are focusing only on themselves and making sure they are full prepared for the challenge ahead.
It has been a remarkable transformation in the fortunes of Highland’s senior side and testament to the spirit shown by a group of previously beleaguered players who have been galvanised this season under the leadership of head coach Davie Carson.
"We were all disappointed by what happened 12 months ago, but the guys have came back fighting," said Carson.
"We knew that we had to rebuild, but we’ve stuck together and it’s been a joy this season, not just working with the players, but also the coaching team as we have a really good mix in that department. Everyone brings something different to the table.
"It would be the icing on the cake if we can win on Saturday, but if not then it’s still been a fantastic season, especially if we can go through the league campaign unbeaten, having gone past the 1000-point mark and conceding less than 100 so far."
For some of Highland’s squad this is not their first Bowl final with several of the current first-team group having taken part in various guises in the 2006 final.
Kevin Brown and Gareth High played after starting on the bench eight years ago, while current coaches Morris Dillon and Bruce MacGregor were in the starting line-up. Craig Irvine was the water boy and Callum Carson the team mascot.
Although Paul Schofield does not make a return, his son Ollie will be the team mascot and lead the players out tomorrow.
Carson has only been able to name a 22-man squad, but confirmed that all the players who have featured for the team this season will have a part to play on the day.
With Murrayfield out of commission due to work being done on the pitch, tomorrow’s finals day will take place at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld.
The venue has a state-of-the-art synthetic surface and in order to get the players used to it, Carson and his coaching team have been busy putting them through their paces at Millburn Academy, which has an artificial pitch.
The fact that the game is not on grass may raise some eyebrows given the physical nature of rugby, but Carson is hoping the quicker conditions underfoot can be to Highland’s advantage.
"We have a very quick back three and if we can secure good ball for them, then we can cause any opponent real problems," he said.
"We’re not over-confident, but it will have to be a good side that beats us because if we can get the ball out to the wings, then we have players more than capable of finishing moves off.
Highland’s full 22-man squad for tomorrow is:
Front row — Stephen Murray, Kevin Brown (captain), Sinclair Patience; Second row — James Taylor and Nathan MacLaughlan; Back row — Eamon Guinan, Paddy Bryden, Gareth High; Half backs: — Craig Little and Scott Fraser; Wings — Craig Findlater and Darren MacLeod; Centres — Rory Cross and Tam Magowan; Full back — Richard Sim. Replacements — Johnny Milton, Stuart Watson, Callum Carson, Craig Irvine, Matt Allan, Dave Titterington and Laurie Cuthbertson.
