RUGBY - Highland head coach open to blooding more youth before end of season
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Head coach Dave Carson has not ruled out more opportunities for Highland Rugby Club’s young players before the end of the season.
Efforts have been made to blood the best young talent at the club in the first team squad in National One this season, with the likes of Alfie Kinsella and Svend Pederson impressing at times after stepping up.
Now, with time and matches in the 2022/23 campaign running out, Highland are sitting fairly comfortably in fifth – 10 points behind Gala and with only Biggar providing a threat from behind.
That could lead to an element of experimentation from Carson, whether that be tactically or in terms of personnel with the pressure largely off the Canal Park outfit.
So with trips to Dundee and Aberdeen Grammar to go before the season closer against leaders Kelso, Carson is open to giving more players a chance.
“It’s about confidence, and making sure boys are enjoying themselves – that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day,” Carson explained.
“We’ve blooded a lot of young guys this year.
“If there are any more, we’ll certainly speak to the second team coaches to see if anyone else needs a taste off the bench.
“If they’re a prospect for next year, we’ll have a look at them now.
“Then we can see what they need to improve on over the break and what they need to come back as for pre-season to push for a place in the first 15.”
The upcoming matches against Grammar and Dundee will see Highland go up against their closest rivals geographically in the league.
At this point, it is highly unlikely that any of them will overtake Carson’s men in the standings, but he would still like to pick up results to establish Highland as the best in the region.
“We turned a corner a wee while ago, and I feel we’ve been playing really good rugby and scoring some great tries,” he added.
“The forwards have really been fantastic, they totally dominated the Melrose pack a couple of weeks ago – which we haven’t had before down there.
“We’re looking to be the best team in the North Midlands of the Caley set-up. That would be nice after the last year of work.”
