The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
High detachment alert
LEAGUES: After a Gala day to forget it’s time for Dundee to take Bulls by horns
The scant consolation for Dundee High at the beginning of this challenging season is that the three sides they’ve lost to in starting their Tennent’s National One campaign currently occupy the top three spots in the table.
But three games in is no guarantee of anything and, after the catalogue of calamities at Netherdale last week, some kind of confidence boost is badly needed for the visit of Hamilton Bulls to Mayfield tomorrow.
Bad enough was losing heavily to a Gala side reduced to 14 men for more than an hour, but there were injuries to Angus Campbell, Gavin Hughan and Ross Milne. The Titans have been going well in the second XV league so far but even the newly augmented player numbers at Mayfield are coming under heavy strain.
Hamilton came up behind Kirkcaldy from Division Two last season with a strong finish they’ve taken into their National One campaign, scoring 40 points in defeat at Netherdale and beating Selkirk. For Dundee, some sort of forward progress is essential if they’re not to become detached.
Kirkcaldy are only a couple of places above in 10th in the division after a game that got away from them at Aberdeen Grammar last week, three converted tries in the final 10 minutes turning a nine-point deficit into a 30-point one by no-side.
Rhys Bonner’s first-half injury was a worry – as was the failure to capitalise on a monopoly of possession in the first half as the Blues pack were making good ground. However, Grammar’s fleet backs made the most of some turnovers for their scores.
Kirkcaldy are back at Beveridge Park tomorrow to take on GHA, handsome winners at Mayfield two weeks back but brought back down to earth with a home defeat by Jed-Forest last week, their first loss of the campaign.
From the evidence of a fortnight ago Kirkcaldy should have a clear advantage in the setpiece but the slickness and intent of GHA’s phase play was impressive and they’ve got some pace out wide to go with it.
Biggar look like title favourites in National Two and didn’t do much to disabuse anyone of that notion with a dominating performance against Howe of Fife at Duffus Park last week.
That leaves Howe with two bonus points leading a group of three teams with three defeats in as many games, one of which is this week’s hosts Glasgow Accies. Promoted last year from National Three, Accies suffered a sore one in the home opener to Dumfries and were well beaten at Stewart’s-Melville last week.
Perthshire are enjoying their best start to a season in a while with two wins from three and their first league win away from the Inch since last October at Murrayfield last week.
It was a win based on the pack’s power and the control of Graeme Clow at standoff while his brother Duncan, Dan Bowater and wing Matt Rae had the tries.
Perthshire host St Boswells, who opened the season with a win against Hillhead-Jordanhill but who have suffered defeats by Gordonians and West of Scotland in the last fortnight.
Caledonia Division One sees the meeting of the only two remaining unbeaten sides, Dunfermline and Strathmore, at McKane Park. Strathie, runners up to Caithness last year, have laid down an early marker with three conclusive wins under new coach Alan Brown, the 60-point rout of Aberdeen Wanderers last week their third bonus point win in as many outings.
Dunfermline have played just the two games but, after a tense derby win over Glenrothes, put Harris to the sword 43-0 at Elliot Road last week.
It’s shaping up as a tough one for Harris and doesn’t get any easier with a visit Glenrothes, who intend to get among the early leaders.
Alloa are currently second and are at Aberdeen Wanderers.
Carnoustie stand atop Caley Midlands 2 after their bonus-point win over Panmure last week, but they have a tough one tomorrow against the probable title favourites Blairgowrie away.
Dundee Morgan were surprisingly beaten at Waid last week but still sit on top of Caley Midlands Three and host Grangemouth IIs tomorrow.