RUGBY - Highland make perfect start away against Dundee as Inverness club pick up bonus point win
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Highland Rugby Club made the perfect start to their National One season with a 47-19 win at Dundee – but head coach Dave Carson is refusing to get carried away.
Tries from Calum MacPherson and Jack Sutherland saw Highland race into an early lead, but Dundee hit back – taking a 19-14 lead at half time.
Renewed focus in the second half saw Highland pull away once again though, with Hugo Crush getting them back in front.
MacPherson touched down for the second time, backed up by Crush securing his own brace. Kevin Brown then added to the tally before MacPherson claimed his hat-trick – with Rory Carson only missing a single conversion.
“Within 18 minutes, we were 14-0 up away from home, and maybe we switched off for a wee bit because Dundee certainly came back at us,” Carson explained.
“They got three tries, and we were 19-14 down at half time wondering what had happened.
“It was just about resetting things. We had done everything right in the first 20 minutes – making all our tackles and putting pressure on them, getting turnovers and winning good ball – so we had to get back to that.
“We just had to refocus the defensive effort we had to put in, and we did that in spades which was fantastic.
“We were the only team to win away from home, but you just don’t know the strength of everyone until you get a few games in.
“Out of the big sides last season, Gala, Melrose and Biggar all got beat, so you just don’t know who the top sides will be this year.
“It’s going to be competitive, so to get five points away from home early doors is really good with a home game coming up next.”
It was a good week for Highland as a whole club.
Their second team, the Raptors, opened up their Caledonia One campaign at home against Aberdeenshire.
They too were able to record an emphatic win, with the score 48-12 when the full-time whistle was blown – a strong start for the Canal Park side in the North Conference.
Highland’s under-18 boys were also in action against Dunfermline in the National Conference Division Two.
Again, the Highlanders were able to celebrate a big win when all was said and done, as this time Highland recorded a 60-10 victory.
