RUGBY - Derby defeat helped Raptors focus minds ahead of rematch
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Highland Raptors coach Nathan McLaughlan is optimistic that they have learned lessons from defeat to Ross Sutherland ahead of the return derby tomorrow.
The Invergordon side ran out 20–19 winners over the Caledonia North Two league leaders back in October, one of just two losses the Raptors have endured this season.
McLaughlan, though, tried to take the positives from that outcome, saying it was a reminder that Highland’s second team still have room for improvement.
Now, he will lead his side into the rematch tomorrow hoping for a better result.
“Ross just edged us by a point through there earlier in the season, and it’s always very difficult to predict derby games,” he explained.
“What we’ve been saying all season is to just play our game and not get sucked in to playing the way the other team wants us to.
“That will be no different on Saturday. We’ll try to play at our tempo and with accuracy, and if we can impose our game on the match then I think we’ll come away with a win – but that’s easier said than done.
“The first match possibly has been lingering in some minds a little bit, but I don’t think too much. Any game that we lose is going to sting a bit, but winning all the time is not a good way to improve.
“Having some losses in there can be great for focusing the mind, and we take lessons from those to grow as players. Hopefully we’ve done that for this return leg.”
Highland go into the match off the back of a 32–8 win away at Mackie that McLaughlan says was a tougher test than it looked, and exactly the kind of challenge they needed.
Getting five points was vital too in the title race, which is currently out of the Raptors’ hands as they need Moray to drop points.
“Every game is a must win for us,” McLaughlan added.
“We just have to wait and see if Moray are going to drop any points. Credit to them, when we played them through there they were good value for their win, and they have certainly been the best team we’ve faced so far this year.
“We obviously want to stay top and win the title, and to do that we have to beat everyone – including our local rivals.”
