Highland ready for stiff Accies test

HIGHLAND’S tough pre-season training will be put to the test this Saturday as coach Dave Carson takes a 23-man strong squad to the capital to face Edinburgh Accies in a friendly match.

This will definitely test Carson’s troops with Accies being three divisions above them in National League One.

Having handled higher league opposition well already in pre-season, following a strong showing against Kirkcaldy a fortnight ago, there is much optimism that the squad will show up well once again and gain much-needed experience.

New additions, such as forwards Rhodri Lucas and Andrew Findlater, will be part of this continually improving squad, which will also include a pack of last year’s under-18s who make their bid for a first XV place.

The Jack Henderson match against Ross Sutherland planned for Wednesday was cancelled and will now be played at the end of the season. Instead, the second XV played a training match against the Invergordon side and included a couple of 1st XV regulars unable to travel to Edinburgh, such as full-back Richard Sim.

This could prove to be a good shake down for the second string, who do not normally have pre-season matches and it is especially welcome with a big league programme ahead in BT Caledonia League Division Three.

Coaches Alistair McKenzie and James Hay have pulled together a large playing pool to help make the season’s fixtures.

Highland’s under-18’s at last get their pre-season underway with a trip through to Ellon to play in a three way-tournament with the hosts and Aberdeen Grammar. Coaches Hugh Mackintosh and Andy Sutherland are now running the squad and have a great depth of experience in running junior sides.

At training last night, Carson will made the official presentation to Macmillan Cancer Support of the cash raised in May’s charity touch rugby tournament.

A cheque for the huge sum of £4606.31 was handed over from a very successful event that has all the hallmarks of being repeated.

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