High off to Melrose as weather wreaks havoc with schedule

Not a great deal changed during last week’s opening round of club games in 2020, with torrential rain instead of the seasonal staple of frost putting paid to a host of games.

Among the most amusing of postponements was Premiership team Hawick, bemoaning Marr’s “unilateral” decision to call off their meeting on Twitter, as if it had been a feeble excuse.

Video proof of a sodden field of puddles quickly followed from Marr, who with a healthy nine-point lead at the top of the division aren’t particularly avoiding anyone.

Dundee HSFP and Biggar opted to play on a Mayfield mudbath, and the league leaders were relentless in maintaining their 10-point lead at the top of the league. High’s fading hopes of escape were not aided by the news that Kelso had won at home to Gala.

This week High are certain of play, we assume, on the new 4G pitch at the Greenyards against Melrose, who won at Ayr last week.

Beveridge Park wasn’t playable for Kirkcaldy’s big match with GHK and the Blues are now in sixth, nine points adrift of leaders Dumfries.

TheyareupinAberdeen to take on Gordonians this week, the second bottom side having increased their cushion over Whitecraigs last week.

Howe’s game against Ardrossan went the way of the other games in Ayrshire after Storm Brendan, and Berwick were the only leading team in National Three who played, opening out a gap at the top of the division with the defeat of Greenock Wanderers.

But maybe the most notable win of the day was Strathmore’s handsome 38-19 win away at West of Scotland, which almost certainly secures their place in the division for another year.

They are due to host Caithness at Inchamacoble this week with the Northerners doing their Jekyll and Hyde act again last week – a heavy win over Murrayfield Wanderers at home, in sharp contrast to the near 300 points they conceded in their last four away games.

Bottom club Carrick are at Duffus Park to take on fifth-placed Howe, but the Ayrshire club failed to raise a team for the fixture last week at Perthshire.

’Shire are away at Hughenden to take on Hillhead Jordanhill.

Clear leaders of Caledonia Division One, Orkney, are at Blairgowrie, who are hovering just above the relegation zone, for their first contest of 2020 with a midday kick-off.

Third-placed Dunfermline are at Aberdeen Wanderers, with second hosting fourth at Ellon, where Grangemouth are the visitors.

Carnoustie’s solid home win over Panmure consolidated their position at the top of Caley Two Midlands, as the Dundee Uni Medics took second place from their landlords at Forthill.

All three of the top three have home fixtures this weekend.

Dundee High are away to Melrose tomorrow.