North derby starts Highland's 'massive' play-off push
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DAVE Carson wants a north derby win to kick-start a ‘massive’ period in the club’s season.
Chasing second place and a potential play-off spot in the BT Caledonia League Division One, the Canal Park giants face Caithness tomorrow in the first of a vital triple-header.
Seven points separate Highland and Gordonians in second, but the Invernessians have a game in hand on them and welcome the Aberdeenshire side to the Highland Capital in a fortnight. Between those two games, league-leaders Orkney have to come to face Carson’s side in Inverness, where the hosts have not lost in nearly two years.
The rivalry between Highland and Caithness is not as intense as it once was, with only a few players on each side knowing each other according to Carson, and Highland need to pick up from their last two displays to ensure they return to Inverness with maximum points.
“This is the first of three massive games, with Orkney and Gordonians to come to Canal Park in the next two weeks. If we can come out with three wins from three then it will be absolutely fantastic,” he said.
Second place is still the target for Highland given that islanders Orkney are clear at the top of the table on 63 points. Uncertainty surrounds the promotion situation from the division but Carson knows Highland just have to take care of matters in their own hands.
“Nothing is written down so as long as we finish as high as we possibly can then I’ll be happy,” he said. “We haven’t played a lot recently but the last three or four games have certainly brought a lot of improvement. Given our injury situation this season, I’ll be delighted to finish second.
“The first half against Glenrothes was the best rugby we’ve played all season and we got such a good win leading into this one (against Ellon). The forwards played so well and were blowing when they came off the pitch at half-time. But that’s the effort it’s going to take.”
Carson expects a Caithness side itching for revenge, given that in the previous meeting between the two sides at Canal Park in September, Highland ran out comfortable 36-0 winners and head coach Carson expects Caithness to come back with some bite in Thurso.
“They didn’t get much of a chance against us at home because we played that well. It will be a lot tougher up there and they manage to win down at Hillfoots last week,” he said.
“They won’t want to lose at home and they certainly won’t be rolling over for us.”
The squad is at near full-strength for the trip north, with Carson’s only absentees coming in the form of Tam Magowan (wrist), Dave Titterington (work commitments) and Eamon Guinan, who has returned to Ireland.
Momentum is with Highland given their impressive run of form. Despite playing just four times since the turn of the year, Carson’s side have not been beaten since a 33-8 loss away to Orkney at the beginning of November.
After a frenetic couple of weeks for Highland’s under-18s they have a couple of free weekends before they meet Ross Sutherland in the quarter-final of the Caledonia Cup.
It is the turn of the under-16s and under-15s to take centre stage and the under-16s had a solid 32-0 win over Aberdeen Grammar last Sunday, which will probably be enough to secure the league title, so are in fine form for the Caledonia Cup game at Canal Park on Sunday against Aberdeen Wanderers.
The under-15s still have not seen the finish of their league campaign although they sit top of the table. With no recent matches they will be a bit rusty as they take on Deeside in the Caledonia Cup also on Sunday at Canal Park. The under-14s and under-13s are on the road for their friendly matches at Madras College.
On Sunday Highland host their annual Mini Rugby Festival for P4-5 and P6-7 squads from all over the north of Scotland. The day will start at 11am and will run until the late afternoon.
Although the Micro P1-3 squads normally do not take part, a few squads will make the trip to Inverness and so a small number of games will be played by the Micros. Organiser Andrew Russell has already put out a request to parents and volunteers to contact him about running the day yet is still looking for more to contact him to help out on the day.
