Highland overcome injury and illness to post big win over Mackie Academy
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HIGHLAND maintained their push for the league title on Saturday with a big 62-15 bonus point win over relegation threatened Mackie Academy FP.
It was job done fairly comfortably for the title-chasing Highland but several factors made it a difficult day at the office.
Highland started the match with many of the squad suffering from a bug and some niggling injuries. The opposition were also much improved on the performance that saw them beaten 106-0 the last time the sides met.
Scott McKenzie, on his return to the first 15, suffered a nasty bicep injury after 10 minutes and left the field to head to the hospital. Stephen Murray also left the game due to the bug after 20 minutes.
Highland stayed organised and were able to run in tries from Paddy Bryden, Richard Sim, Steven Rutledge and two from Craig Findlater with three conversions by Morris Dillon. Mackie battled strongly and came back with a converted try and a penalty for a half-time score of 31-10.
Highland’s play was not as fluid as recent weeks but the squad worked hard to keep on top of the visitors who kept on competing despite the likely result. The home side ran in another four tries, a second for Dillon, two more from Findlater and one by debutant Dougie Darling, who could not hide the big grin with gum-shield as he dived over between the posts. With Dillon converting three and Mackie getting a well-earned second try the game finished 62-15.
Head coach Dave Carson was pleased to get the result and although the general standard of play did not meet recent standards, he was happy with the way the squad coped with the injuries and sickness.
The back three of Sim, Rutledge and Findlater were very effective together while Ian Crush was direct at centre when he came on. However, McKenzie will miss the rest of the season as he went in for surgery on Sunday on his bicep injury.
Highland hope the bug moving through the squad will have dissipated by next weekend in time for the big league fixture against Glenrothes – a possible league decider.
In BT Caledonia League Division Three North the lead at the top of the table changed hands as Banff defeated North Scotland Police 27-5 to go top, as Highland’s second string had a weekend off. Inverness Craig Dunain went down 14-0 to Gordonians second 15 through in Aberdeen.
Highland had a few junior sides in action over the weekend. On Saturday the under-18s took on Gordonstoun in friendly match that replaced the scheduled cup match with Deeside and despite being slightly under-strength, Highland won out 46-12. They now have a bye into the next round of the cup and wait to see who they will play.
On Sunday the under-16s travelled north and had a convincing 36-0 win over Caithness to progress to the next stage of the cup.
