The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Injuries are ravaging Dundee High’s usual optimistic outlook
Dundee HSFP’S brutal season with injury and unavailability is not dampening the usual sunny optimism at the club – but it’s getting a close run thing.
Prior to last week’s defeat to Highland, the Mayfield club had fielded 51 players in their league campaign – effectively three different XVS and a full bench of subs for good measure.
Last week at Highland they were forced to call on players loaned from Falkirk and Ross and Sutherland to cover statutory front row requirements and veteran wing/centre Dave Mason volunteered as a replacement.
In addition, there were three more debutants in the team – almost enough this season to ensure a full repertoire of debut songs on the bus back from Inverness.
This week Dundee host Gala at Mayfield, another club of some repute struggling a little in the modern world of club rugby, although in the relatively comfortable position of mid-table in National One.
Your correspondent recalls covering one game between the two clubs at Mayfield which featured Chris Paterson at 10 for the Maroons and Rob Wainwright in the back row for Dundee.
And in another at Netherdale, future Edinburgh and Scotland team-mates Nathan Hines and Jonny Petrie exchanged some friendly pleasantries.
After a slowish start, things are definitely looking up in the kingdom of Fife.
Kirkcaldy exacted full revenge on Hamilton for the heavy cup defeat last month by running up the half-century on the Bulls in their National Two meeting at Beveridge Park.
That allowed the Blues to move into third in the division and they are home again this week to Preston Lodge, lying fifth three points in arrears.
However, performance of the day went to Howe of Fife, who routed the team just above them in National League Three, Greenock Wanderers, for their eighth win, the sixth by a bonus point.
Lasswade is the next port of call for Howe, now second with leaders Berwick – the only side to beat them this season – just a single point ahead.
Perthshire and Strathmore meet at the Inch, both in need of some reassuring points for safety.
Shire are five clear of the bottom two clubs, Strathie five points better off after they took a losing bonus from Murrayfield Wanderers last week.
The remainder of Shield and Bowl semifinals are wound up with Dunfermline, hosting Grangemouth Stags at Mckane Park, probable favourites to go on to meet Orkney in the Regional Shield Final.
The Islanders booked their spot with an 80-0 rout of Alloa in the other semi.
The Caley Regional Bowl semis sees defending champions DUMS aiming for a third successive final and in Anstruther to meet Waid. The other semi pits Kinross at home to Madras, yet to lose this season.