The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
High miss out on play-off, but still full of potential
DUNDEE HSFP: Huge potential if squad can stay together over the summer
The news from Inverleith was ultimately disappointing, but Dundee HSFP have everything to be optimistic about even in missing out on the promotion play-off for the BT Premiership.
To pip Marr to the winner-take-all meeting with Gala, High needed a bonus point win on Saturday which they eventually delivered with some comfort, a second-half surge overwhelming Jed-Forest 50-21.
However, they needed Marr to slip up at Stewart’s Melville. Although that was a breathless game of thrust and counter thrust, the news that the Troon side were trailing 36-34 with just a few minutes remaining raised hopes.
But as the players applauded each other off at Mayfield, announcer Ken McKay regailed all with the news that Marr – probably deservedly over the course of the season – had clinched the date with Gala by scoring three late tries to win 36-55.
In truth, there’s little to be disappointed about, in that High hoped rather than expected to be so close with a team in transition, and hugely encouraged by the run of six successive wins at the death.
However, JJ van der Esch, taking head coaching duties as Colin Sangster recovers from surgery, was still disappointed they hadn’t quite got there.
“I think we wanted that play-off for the team and their development,” he said. “People might say that there’s a gap between National League and the Premiership, and Gala will be huge favourites to win the play-off, but I wanted to see our guys meet that challenge.
“Marr already got that when they beat us in the cup and then played Hawks.
“I’d have liked to see what our guys could do and even if they hadn’t won, the experience would have been invaluable.”
JJ agrees, however, that if this squad can stay together over the summer then there’s huge potential for High next season.
“I think in another year, if we hang on to some of these guys, we could be ready,” he said. “The team’s gone through a lot of changes the last few years with new coaches and new faces, and it’s great to see how far we’ve come.”
Jed were in the promotion play-off hunt themselves until last week and had the better of the first 40 minutes, with stand-off Gregor Mein catching the eye with ball in hand and off the boot.
But once High settled down, courtesy of a big sleight of hand from their captain, there was only one team in it.
Alan Brown has always been a prolific try-scorer for the club, but his 11th this season was a peach, and there are few tightheads ever in Scottish club rugby who could have thrown the dummy that froze the Jed defence for the try that brought the scores level at 21 each.
Van der Esch played tighthead for Dundee before Broonie but never attempted such a thing. “I think I did a sidestep once, but never again, and certainly nothing like that,” he joked.
Mein’s first error came immediately with a too-short restart which Matt O’Sullivan returned into the 22, and Neil Dymock bagged a second front-row try for High in barely a minute.
The floodgates heaved open after that, with a brace of tries from O’ Sullivan and one each for Ewan Fox and Mike Brown to add to Isoa Matacagi’s first half double.
High have not been lucky with injuries this year, but have found plenty of young talent to fill the gap.
Fox looked particularly at home as a second-half replacement in the centre.
The pick of the forwards was Paddy Hamilton, the latest of the Ulster students that have been such a boon to the club over the years and the son of Gordon Hamilton, the former Howe of Fife back rower who won 10 caps for Ireland and scored arguably Lansdowne Road’s most famous try, in the 1991 World Cup quarter- final against Australia.
The bloodlines were obvious. His speed, mobility and timing of pass were evident throughout, although he might be headed on to studies abroad this summer.
The club will and should do all they can to keep him.