The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Sugden promotes Gordonians challenge
Gordonians will be one of the favourites to be promoted from Caledonia Division 1 this season.
Club president Jim Sugden said: “After our closerun thing last season when we came second to Highlandwearenowready for a big push to get ourselves into National 3 under our excellent coach Ryan Morrice and captain Tom Williams. It’s time for the club to feature in the National League.”
Gordonians now have a junior section which Sugden believes will give the Countesswells club a base to build on.
He added: “They are our future. The Pelicans who are made up of youngsters from P1 and P2may well be the players who bring back Premiership rugby to the city.”
Gordonians kick off the new season with a home game against Dunfermline tomorrow, handing starting places to new signings Matt Hillier, an energetic scrum half, and Matt Gordon, an all-action addition to the pack.
There is a derby at Forfar between Strathmore and Mackie FPs. Both clubs are keen to get off to winning starts after struggling in the Caledonia top league.
Mackie will be boosted by a sterling performance against Aberdeen Grammarin a friendly two weeks ago in which they gave the National League 1 side a run for its money.
The Caley 2 set-up gets under way with a revamped structure designed to save clubs long, expensive trips by creating two sections. Caley 2North-east is made up of Aberdeen Grammar 2XV, Banff, Deeside, Ellon, Garioch and Shetland. Caley 2 Northwest comprises Lochaber, Moray, RAF Lossiemouth, Ross Sutherland , Stornoway and Highland 2nds. The top three from each section play off at the end of the season.
This weekend Banff play newcomers Aberdeen G ramma r , RAF Lossiemouth meet Ross Sutherland and Moray are at home to Stornoway.