High aim to keep grip on silverware

League points and trophy bonus up for grabs on visit to Rubislaw

Dundee High overcame a stuttering start and the absence of some of their most experienced hands to eventually deliver a handsome half-century last week over Musselburgh, and there’s silverware at stake in BT National League One with the Dallas Allardice Trophy up for grabs against old foes Aberdeen Grammar.

High frustratingly stayed stuck in sixth after last week’s victory, a position that most of the club feel doesn’t reflect their play this season. However, they have the ideal opportunity to move up with games against the side directly below them before the month long break for the Autumn Test programme.

The meeting with old friends at Grammar is one that High have dominated in recent years, in fact since Aberdeen returned to National One in 2014, High have won all three of the league meetings of the clubs at Rubislaw.

Last week they did without Danny Levison (work commitments) and Alan Brown (paternity leave), the two cornerstones of the team, but Andy Redmayne has been a huge presence, Neil Herron continues to have a sparkling return after so many injury problems and there’s plenty of youth coming through, with young hooker Angus Fraser getting them all excited down at Mayfield.

Three High players have been selected in the Caledonia squad for the match against the South at Bridgehaugh next week, Brown, Levison and the consistently excellent George Arnott.

Ewan Fox, not long out of Mayfield and now at Watsonians, is also selected, while Greig Ryan, of Grammar and ex of Dundee, is also on board.

High coach Colin Sangster is in charge of the Caley squad and it’s gratifying to see so many areas of the region represented, from Aubrey Mncube from Grange mouth in the South to Jake Eagles ham, now of Hawks but originally from the Ross Sutherland club, in the north.

Kirkcaldy’s great start to the season is reflected in the Caley selection of their powerful hooker Greg Wallace.

The Blues remain top of National League Two but it was a close run thing at Burnbrae where only a missed penalty prevented West sharing the spoils.

Kirkcaldy’s powerful and well-drilled pack – with second row Connor Wood outstanding again – brought them both tries in a 17-14 win on a gluepot of a pitch and they’ll be happy to get back home for the game with Biggar.

Perthshire have won three out of four to pull clear of the bottom three in National Three, and two of the victories have been away from the North Inch, last week’s excellent 21-15 win at Haddington being the latest, although not without a scare or two.

Scrum-half Zack Harris was again the try-scoring hero with the key score, although it took an almighty rearguard action and hanging on with 13 men at the end to keep the win secure.

But after games against the bottom three in the last month, they have promotion chasing Murrayfield Wanderers at the Inch this week as a test of how far they’ve come.

The Caley Shield and Midlands Bowl have reached the quarter-final stages, with the pick of the quarter-finals in the Shield probably being the clash of Alloa and last year’s Bowl finalists Blairgowrie.

It’s the unbeaten team at the top of Midlands Two against the team in second in Caley One, a huge game for Blair to see where they stand.

Similarly, unbeaten Waid FP, top of Midlands Three, will fancy a home tie against Panmure from Midlands Two in the Bowl quarters.

Caledonia squad for match against the South, Bridgehaugh, Tuesday): Forwards: George Arnott (Dundee HSFP), Alan Brown (Dundee HSFP), Kris Burney (Currie), John Cox (Currie), Jake Eaglesham (Glasgow Hawks), Matthew Emmison (Stirling County), Reyner Kennedy (Stirling County), Ruairidh Leishman (Stirling County) Daniel Levison (Dundee HSFP), Shaun MacDonald (Stirling County), Aubrey Mncube (Boroughmuir), James Pow (Stirling County), Greig Ryan (Aberdeen Grammar), Lewis Skinner (Glasgow Hawks), Greg Wallace (Kirkcaldy).

Backs: Johnny Adams( Borough muir ), Rory Carmichael (Perthshire), Stuart Edwards (Heriots FP), Glen Faulds (Currie), Ewan Fox (Watsonians), Ross Findlay (GHA), Jonny Hope (capt, Stirling County), DJ Innes (Watsonians), Peter Jericevich (Stirling County), Ewan Macgarvie (Stirling County), Richard Mill (Edinburgh Accies), Erlend Oag (Glasgow Hawks), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Hawks ), Logan Trotter( Stirling County ).