The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Wounded High face another severe test
The problems facing Dundee High Rugby multiplied last Saturday as they went down to Biggar in their Tennent’s National 1 clash at Hartreemill.
It is difficult to say what was the most worrying, that they shipped a half-century of points or that they only managed seven of their own.
Coach Colin Sangster will rightly point to a lengthy injury list which includes some of his most experienced players but that will not be resolved quickly and certainly will have an impact again this Saturday.
League leaders Melrose are at Dalnacraig coming off a last-minute win against Ayr at the Greenyards last Saturday and there is no doubt that they will have Dundee in their sights in their bid to go six games without defeat to maintain their unbeaten league record.
It was a welcome try bonus point which came Kirkcaldy’s way against Gordonians last week but against the bottom side in National 2, it was one they could have anticipated.
It will not be as straightforward this week when they travel to Bladnoch to take on a Newton Stewart side who are on the same points and one place below Kirkcaldy in the table thanks to poorer differential.
They lost by the narrowest of margins – 11-10 – to GHK last week at Old Anniesland where Kirkcaldy lost 32-10 the previous week and are always a real handful on their home patch.
Kirkcaldy have no wins from away games so this one will take an almighty effort from Quinten Sanft’s troops.
Ardrossan are at Strathmore this week and will still be smarting from their last trip to the east coast a fortnight ago when they were dumped by Howe of Fife and although they bounced back last Saturday with a hefty win over Murrayfield Wanderers, they will not be relishing this one.
Having been at the wrong end of a 34-14 scoreline at home last week to Hillhead Jordanhill, Perthshire will approach Duffus Park with some trepidation on Saturday.
Howe of Fife have won four from five and boast the best defensive record in the league so they can look back on last week’s 39-10 win at Carrick and know that, against another bottom three side, a bonus point win could again be on the cards.