Poor Gala occasion for Highland after heavy defeat in National One
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HIGHLAND suffered a heavy 34–7 defeat to top of the table Gala in National One as they suffered their fourth defeat in a row.
The Inverness outfit proved no match for the league leaders who are two points in front of Heriot’s with three games left to play for the top-two.
Gala ran in six tries in a comprehensive victory for the hosts at Netherdale, with Adriu Muritoki scoring the only try for Highland with Scott Fraser converting.
Head coach Dave Carson says he had no complaints about the scoreline, saying the better team won.
“Gala are a good team and they are very smart,” said Carson.
“The opening 15 minutes was an even contest and then we received a yellow card.
“For eight of those minutes they managed to score three tries to put them 19–0 up at half time.
“We then lost a soft try in the second half and for the next 30 minutes we pressed them well.
“We scored a try and we should have scored two or three more.
“But we weren’t accurate enough to get those.”
Carson introduced a number of players from the Highland 2nd XV squad which won the Caledonia North Two title earlier this month.
He says they impressed in the first XV and says he is prepared to give them more chances in the remainder of the National One season.
“They performed well and it gave them a taste of National One rugby which will be important for us next year.
“They have shown me there is a bright future at the club.
“I will certainly be looking to include them on the bench.”
In Caledonia North Four, Highland 3rd XV’s title chances ended after being thrashed 50–7 by Deeside.
But there was victory for Inverness Craig Dunain who defeated Turriff 36–12 at Inverness High School.
