Dundee bid to move out of the middle

Dundee High Rugby reach the halfway point of the BT National League One season about as in the middle as it’s possible to get.

The leagues restart tomorrow after the Autumn Tests window with High just below the halfway point in the table, with five wins and five losses from their campaign so far.

There’s no danger for the club – they’re 10 points ahead of Kelso in eighth – but some of the performances of the young side this year have many at Mayfield thinking they should be a little higher than they are.

The club had to scratch from the BT Cup, the only fixtures during the autumn break, because five injured props meant they could not fulfil an experienced front row to take on a Premiership club of the calibre of Marr.

This wasn’t a decision taken lightly but in terms of both player welfare and proper competition the club felt they had no choice.

While availability of players has been an issue across club rugby this season, this was very much an isolated case for Dundee; they have had teams set for all Titans 2nd XV fixtures this season and on occasions when games have been called off it’s been due to the opposition failing to raise a team.

Cartha Queen’s Park are the visitors to Mayfield this week, one of three clubs looking over their shoulders at the relegation places below. High feel they are at least the equal of clubs like GHA and Gala ahead of them, but the next few weeks are the time to show it.

Kirkcaldy reach the halfway stage three points clear at the top in the now truncated National League Two, reduced to 11 teams with the inevitable removal of Aberdeenshire for being unable to fulfil fixtures.

The Blues signed off for the break with a crushing win over Biggar at Beveridge Park and they’re right back into the fire with a visit to Hamilton this weekend.

The Bears would have been favoured to bounce right back up to National One but, like Howe of Fife, have found National Two a bit of a stiffer contest than they might have anticipated.

Still, they have won all four home games so far and would probably be in second instead of fourth had they been able to play their outstanding game against strugglers Whitecraigs.

In National Three Perthshire just missed out on a losing bonus against Murrayfield Wanderers last time out but look fairly solidly positioned above the tail of the division. They head to Inverness to take on Highland this week.

Caledonia Division One has Strathmore sitting proudly at the top with the loss to Caithness their only blip in a strong season so far. The weather put paid to a warm-up fixture for the restart against Dundee Titans but they beat a Perthshire XV last week.

The Forfar side are idle again this week offering a chance for Alloa and Caithness to catch up, the Gryphons at Banff and Caithness, who have a game in hand and are four points behind, hosting Aberdeen Wanderers.

There’s a Fife derby as well with Glenrothes at McKane Park to take on Dunfermline.

Blairgowrie, who are still out in front with nine wins from nine in Caley Two Midlands, are at home to thirdplaced Carnoustie HSFP as they go for 10 in a row.

They’re not off to the races yet though, with Hillfoots just four points behind in second and Carnoustie only nine adrift with a lot of rugby yet to be played over the winter months.

The 16-team Caley Three Midlands has been a bit of a rollercoaster so far with leaders Waid FP unseated by Crieff & Strathearn in make-up fixtures played during November. Five teams are within seven points of the lead.