Highland Rugby Club ready to go to Old Anniesland and spoil GHK's National One homecoming; derby in Caledonia North Three between Highland and Inverness Craig Dunain
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Highland Rugby Club head coach Dave Carson expects next opponents GHK to try and put on a show for their home crowd this weekend.
GHK have not yet hosted a National One match at Old Anniesland this season, their first back in the division after winning National Two last year.
Carson, then, expects a strong atmosphere when they return home for the first time at a higher level, and is looking forward to what promises to be an exciting game of rugby.
“I’m sure when they get back to their home turf they will want to put a better performance on for their supporters,” Carson said.
“They’re a good side with a lot of experience, a couple of professional coaches and an ex-professional player.
“They look to be a totally different challenge to what we had against Ayr and Dundee.
“They like to fling the ball to their really quick backs out wide, so we’ll have to change things up a wee bit to get the better of them.
“It could be a very exciting game. We’ve watched them a couple of times, so it’s a challenge we’re up for and Old Anniesland is a fantastic pitch to go and play on.
“I’m sure they will have a good support, so I’m looking forward to it.”
From Highland’s perspective, rather than a celebration, the goal will be to go to GHK and continue the winning start they have made to the campaign.
“It’s absolutely perfect, and a total reversal from last year when we lost our first two,” Carson added.
“We knew we needed to get off to a better start this time, win our first two or three and get the ball rolling.
“We’ve nailed that. We’ll push again this week and try to make it three out of three, because our away form is going to be critical to finish high up the table.
“It wasn’t that good last year. We had a few great wins, but overall we probably lost more than we won and you need to pick up points away from home to be challenging at the end of the season.”
Absence leads to opportunity
Gordon Gregor will miss Highland’s trip to GHK – but that has only opened the door for a teenager to make his first start.
Alfie Kinsella was given 20 minutes as a replacement in last weekend’s win over Dundee, and with Gregor on holiday head coach Dave Carson is keen to see what the 17-year-old can do from the start.
"We blooded a 17-year-old last Saturday, Alfie Kinsella who is still in our under-18s," Carson added.
"He plays in the same position as Gordon, and we gave him 20 minutes against Dundee and did really well. We reckon he can do a job down at GHK, and he's well up for it, so we're looking forward to seeing him progress.
"He's been on the radar, he's in district squads with Caley Under-18s which – if he keeps developing – will hopefully lead to the Scotland set-up.
"he has trained with us for the last month and got passed fit to play senior rugby, because they have to go through strength tests if they are under 18.
"He's looking very sharp, he's young, enthusiastic, fit and strong. In the 20 minutes he had against Dundee, he carried five or six good carries, made some good ground and made his tackles.
"He really enjoyed it which is the main thing, that's what it's all about, so I'm keen to see how he gets on over the full 80 minutes."
Lower league round-up
Highland’s Raptors will be chomping at the bit to get back to action against Banff this weekend.
Last Saturday’s scheduled match against North Police was postponed due to the impacts of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at the start of the week.
The complete postponement of domestic fixtures the previous weekend means that Highland’s second team have to go back to the opening day of the campaign at the start of September for the last match they were able to play.
That occasion went very well for them, winning 29–10 against Moray at home, and they will strong favourites to finally add to their points tally this weekend.
The Raptors will go on the road to Banff, who are yet to pick up their first point of the season after losing 40–10 to Ross Sutherland and 31–17 to Lossiemouth.
However, Highland will have reason to be wary. Banff were expected to down at the bottom end of last season’s league table, but managed to exceed expectations – proving that they were capable of picking up big results as underdogs.
One tier below in the Caledonia North Three, an Inverness derby is on the cards.
Highland’s third team will play host to Inverness Craig Dunain, who have sunk into negative points.
Craig Dunain already have to play their “home” games in Elgin and Invergordon after finding out their usual home at Inverness High School was no longer available just before the start of the season.
Adding to their woes, they were unable to raise a team to face Kinloss last time out, meaning they were deducted three points before getting any on the board.
Highland’s third team, meanwhile, were beaten on the islands. They made the journey out to Stornoway last weekend, but came away empty-handed after losing 27–7.
It was better news for Craig Dunain’s women on an island, though, as they beat Orkney.
Now they will be looking to continue the winning momentum built up over the opening weeks of the campaign at home against title rivals Peterhead tomorrow – a match that was postponed from two weekends ago.
