Numbers and enthusiasm high as Highland prepare for National League return
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HIGHLAND have never been a team to shirk a challenge.
From struggling to field a side six years ago to facing arduous away journeys on their way to Murrayfield last season, the men at Canal Park have faced each test with squared shoulders and boundless ferocity.
This season will be no different. For the first time in more than a decade, Highland will return to the National League set-up and bring their brand of energising, attack-first rugby to the rest of Scotland.
It is a stage they all want to perform on. After narrowly missing out on promotion the year before to Orkney, last season was all about vindication. Come April, those in green and red danced triumphantly under a shower of champagne as they celebrated returning to the big time.
Nearly four months down the line and with the new season approaching, the enthusiasm has not dimmed.
“Numbers at training have been fantastic,” said head coach Dave Carson, who has masterminded two promotions and two cup finals in three seasons. “There’s been close to 50 bodies there. We’ve only lost Richard Sim, who’s taking a year out, and Paddy Bryden from last year. We’ve had eight new guys come in and we’ll give them games in the firsts and seconds before the season starts.”
By Carson’s own admission, there are times last season when the greens turned up expecting to win, such was the gulf in class between them and the lower teams in the Caledonia One. An unbeaten season is undoubtedly underpinned by high quality performances from your own side, but it would be remiss to state the opposition was always top-drawer.
They battered their way through the league last season, racking up 933 points in 18 games, including 91 against Carnoustie on April 23 when they sealed the title and promotion. Carson acknowledges that one of the biggest challenges will be players accepting they will not have it all their own way this year.
“There won’t be any easy games this year, which we’ve got to get to grips with,” he said. “We need to learn how to beat teams; how to wear them down and not to expect too much in the first half of games. There’ll be a lot more patience needed and not expecting to score of the first phase of play.
“We can’t expect to run through teams – the big guys won’t get through as many tackles as they did last year. We’ve been working on off-loads and getting players up in support, to get in behind teams that way. We need to learn we can grind teams down.
“Some of the older guys will have experienced that before, whereas some that have been with us for just the last three years won’t. They’re going to have be thinking a lot more about what they’re doing.”
Highland completed their first pre-season friendly on Saturday, a training match against north rivals Caithness, while Edinburgh Accies come to Inverness this weekend in what will be a massive test for Carson’s side. Accies are only two seasons out of the Premiership but good links between the two sides – Highland travelled to Edinburgh for a friendly last year and some of their students play for them – have given them a great acid test ahead of the new campaign.
First up on September 3 is Orkney, which will be the closest thing to a derby this season. Miles on the road will be cranked up, with away trips to St Boswells in The Borders and Greenock Wanderers both eight-hour round-trips that will require overnight stays.
Orkney are the yardstick which Highland would do well to follow. The islanders finished mid-table last year in their first year at National League level, winning half of their games and making a mockery of their significant travel commitments.
“With all the travelling they had to do, they more than held their own,” added Carson, who has seen Andrew Findlater replace Kevin Brown as captain this season. “They’re a good benchmark and after we’ve played them in the first game, we’ll have to ask them how they found last season and pick up any pointers we can.”
It was a slimmed down squad that took to the pitch against Caithness, with as many as 25 players away to Belladrum and eight out injured.
Former under-18 Alex Murray looked promising as did Ross Sutherland winger Mike Gordon, who is looking to make the switch to Highland.
A total of 49 players also flew out on the pre-season tour to Belfast where two sides played City of Armagh RFC. It was a good run-out against a side of similar standing in the Irish leagues. The first XV lost by six tries to two while the second XV drew their match.
With a lot of players available next weekend they will have a stiffer test against Accies, while the second XV plays RAF Lossiemouth.
The city club is flourishing in so many ways and while the players prepare they do so with much of their playing area reduced as the future unfolds nearby with the construction of the new road and clubhouse. The temporary club car park is also the site of the new 4G pitch to be laid next year.
Also on Saturday the under-18s played Whitecraigs in a friendly and were totally dominant in a completely one-sided victory, as they prepare for the President’s Conference once again.
