Highland must wait to find out what fate will be
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HIGHLAND’S hopes of avoiding relegation from Caledonia Regional League Division One remain alive, but only just.
Saturday’s convincing 39-11 victory over fellow strugglers Ellon at Canal Park has moved the Greens up to eighth place, which may be good enough if, as anticipated, two teams face the drop.
But with Ellon and Hillfoots still each having one final fixture to fulfil on Saturday, Highland will have to wait to find out just what their fate will be.
The match began with Highland looking unsettled and perhaps a touch nervous, giving away several penalties through indiscipline.
Ellon missed their first kick at the posts, but made good with a second attempt to lead 3-0 and heap even more pressure on the hosts.
Highland eventually recovered their composure and as they were able to put Ellon under pressure, so the visitors began to pile up the infringements.
Richard Sim, however, was off target twice with the boot, but perhaps the little bit of luck the Greens needed came following a scrappy piece of play that saw Stephen Murray charge through several tackles to score. Once again, Sim was off target, but at least now Highland were 5-3 in front.
Despite edging ahead, the home side still found it difficult to build on their lead, letting Ellon off the hook with some wayward penalties leading to another penalty converted for the visitors to go back into the lead 6-5.
With 10 minutes to half-time, Highland suddenly burst into life as Sim broke through to give a pass that put Craig Findlater clear to score. Sim did manage to convert this time to make the score 12-6 in the hosts favour.
The Greens had now upped the tempo and they increased their lead to 17-6 by the time the interval arrived, Epi Vukicea scoring an unconverted try.
After the restart, Highland resumed where they left off and kept up the pressure on the visitors.
Ellon scrambled to defend and a hurried clearance kick was charged down by Vukicea, who fell on the ball as it landed over the Ellon line. Converted by Sim, the home side now led 24-6 and had the try bonus they so craved.
The visitors did manage a unconverted try of their own to reduce the deficit to 13 points, but Highland quickly resumed their dominance with Ross Temple and Findlater again helping themselves to unconverted tries.
Not even a sin-binning for Murray could prevent Highland from finishing what was a must-win game on a high, Anare Rabonu setting up Rupeni Rokoduguni for an unconverted try that completed the scoring.
Meanwhile, Highland’s under-18s did not have the historic win they hoped for as they went down 29-5 away to Stirling County in the Caledonia Champions League.
Highland travelled with a side weakened by the absence of six regulars and were up against a sharp home team.
The first half was a very even affair, yet Highland let themselves down after some fine work to see County slip in for two quick tries at the end of the half to lead 12-0.
The visitors hit back after the restart following some pressure with Ruaridh Knott going over to make it 12-5, but tiredness began to take its toll as Stirling finished strongly to win the match by 24 points.
