High-flying High face stiffer test at Netherdale

Dundee High were delighted with their returns from their opening weekend in BT National One but a real indication of where the club stands comes tomorrow when they face Gala at Netherdale, writes Steve Scott.

High stand top of the league after just the one game, a handsome 33-0 win over a Falkirk side so decimated by departures that they’re likely to struggle this year after being promotion contenders for much of last term.

There was more than enough to exercise director of rugby Colin Sangster’s attentions this week, not least discipline, but it’s a very young team that will take time to get execution spot on.

Not least young stand-off Rory McGinn, newly out of school and heading for Dundee University but very assured and composed in his hour on the pitch last week. One raking touchfinder from near his own 22 to the opposition’s was particularly impressive.

Having lost Andy Dymock to Glasgow Hawks and Euan Fox to Boroughmuir, with club skipper Duncan Leese out until November at least, the new halfback partnership of McGinn and Josh Rutnagur will be relied upon for now.

Upfront, High look to have a pack with ballast to match any in the league. Ali Mackie is a destructive ball-carrier, and George Arnott and Neil Turnbull a formidable second row unit, with former Glasgow pro Andy Redmayne due to be back, possibly for this weekend’s trip.

They weren’t in the same league for the majority of the time, but it was still a startling statistic that Kirkcaldy’s victory in the National Two derby against Howe of Fife was their first competitive victory over their Fife rivals for 44 years.

Howe’s dominance when the clubs were last in National Two was unquestionable – Blues fans probably still see big Rory Drummond galloping through tackles to the line in their nightmares – but the cup meeting the previous week hinted at a change in the order.

Sure enough, using their bigger and better drilled pack, and with big George Mangalo skippering the side for the first time, the Blues had two pushover tries on their way to a bonus point victory.

It’s a promising start for a club that has gradually built up experience over the last couple of years, establishing a strong foothold in the division and now aiming to be competitive at the top end. Peebles, who surprisingly lost comfortably at Lasswade, are their host this week.

Howe have to regroup quickly in what was always likely to be a difficult start to the season for their new coaching team. Their home opener is against Biggar.

Perthshire ran into a juggernaut last week in upwardly mobile Gordonians, although they might have a contender for that role in National Three in Newton Stewart, who ran up two short of 90 points in winning at Dalziel.

Naturally, after last week’s chastening home loss, the schedulers have Shire down in the deep south west this week. This is a strong division with a clutch of ambitious clubs and it’s going to be a battle for the Inchers, who only escaped relegation due to the schism at RHC.

The regional leagues are in a bye week for Shield and Bowl competitions.