Punishment of clubs unlikely to ease Highland's frustrations
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The increasing frustration felt by the club in missing a series of fixtures is unlikely to be soothed by any action taken by the Scottish Rugby Union. It seems more likely that they will have to endure a greatly extended season.
First-team head coach Dave Carson told the Inverness Courier on Thursday that both Highland and Inverness Craig Dunain would complain to the Scottish Rugby Union about teams apparently being unwilling to travel to north to play games.
As well as the Highland first XV game being postponed, the second team’s game with Aberdeen University Medics was called off, as was Craig Dunain’s fixture with North Scotland Police.
The SRU responded to the allegations of teams refusing to travel to Inverness in winter yesterday, with the SRU’s head of club services Nick Rennie saying that any clubs failing to fulfil fixtures would continue to be punished.
“We appreciate the effort from clubs from the north of Scotland to play their fixtures and we positively encourage other clubs to reciprocate,” he said.
“We provide a travel subsidy to support clubs and if any clubs don’t fulfil their league fixtures, the relevant committee provides team sanctions.”
Highland’s second XV did get a league fixture played, but it was not the one scheduled. Highland and Inverness Craig Dunain each had Aberdeen opposition cancel so it was fortunate that both Inverness sides could catch up on their own missed fixture.
The game was played at Bught Park and it developed into a tight encounter fought out in muddy conditions.
The game was important for both sides and it certainly looked as such from the sidelines.
Highland started as favourites and although they had the means Craig Dunain defended well and limited Highland to a single try scored and converted by Craig Irvine.
The game continued to be very tight until Highland’s fitness started to tell and with Craig Dunain tiring later on more scores came. Highland scored another four tries, another for Irvine and one each from Craig Little, Gareth Soltenstall and Seumas Ross and along with two conversions by Irvine the final score was 31-0.
Coach James Hay was pleased with the win and impressed how the squad played a disciplined and patient game. He also picked out Ross as man of the match.
The victory places Highland in third place in the league and with games in hand on those above them.
Two of Highland’s junior sides were in cup qualifying action over the weekend and it was good news for both.
On Saturday the under-18s were 30-0 winners over Ellon, while on Sunday the under-16s were 20-0 winners over Aberdeen Grammar.
Both now enter the National Cup fixtures to start in January.
