Mulligan delivers try in Biggar send-off victory over Highland
Biggar Rugby Club ended their Tennent’s National League 1 campaign in third place after notching a 57-14 win over Highland at Hartree Mill.
Having been in the title race for much of the season, Biggar ended up four points behind leaders Heriot’s Blues and three adrift of Gala in second.
There was euphoria from earning such an emphatic win, and relief that a protracted season is finally over, but there was also frustration and disappointment at not having secured promotion when it was in their grasp.
It was also the final game for a number of players, due to progress to other clubs, retirals and injuries, but skipper Chris Mulligan is about to embark on a new life in Australia.
Biggar opened the scoring after just two minutes, with Andrew Orr the beneficiary of a Robbie Orr break.
Orr then claimed a try of his own, slicing through the defence.
Highland then hit back, credited to prop Patrick Ratumaisese, before Mulligan ran in Biggar’s third try.
Euan Bogle added conversions to each of Biggar’s tries, with Scott Fraser tagging the points on Highland’s, leaving the score 21-7 to the hosts at the interval.
Biggar opened the second half at pace and scored three tries to one inside 15 minutes of the restart.
Aird and Andy Jardine notched one each, with Andrew Orr bagging his second, with Bogle slotting two conversions.
Fraser scored Highland’s second try and converted it as well.
A brief lull was brought to an abrupt end as Biggar scored three more tries.
Bogle was the pick of the trio with a lung-bursting sprint from 40 metres, and converted a second try for Andy Jardine, and another for Andy Lamb .
Plus-points for Biggar were performances from Robbie Orr, Craig Frame, Euan Mcara and a welldeserved debut for scrum-half Archie Damer.
Biggar have been invited to a couple of Sevens tournaments in the summer, and summer touch rugby should provide some interest for fans over the next few months.
A win elsewhere for Heriot’s over now-relegated Cartha Queen’s Park meaning they pipped Gala to the title by a point and earned promotion to the Premiership.