Dundee High on a low after 50-7 hammering

NATIONAL: City side missing several key senior players amid lengthy injury list

Although Biggar were the first club side not out of last season’s Premiership that Dundee High Rugby had encountered in the league so far, they were well aware of their firepower since they had dumped Ayr at Hartreemill by 62-15 a couple of weeks ago.

That firepower was again evident on Saturday in the Tennent’s National 1 clash which left Dundee reeling at the wrong end of a 50-7 scoreline.

Their only contribution to the score came from a Tim Brown try in the first half converted by Kieran Scoular.

“We are still operating with a lengthy injury list,” said Dundee coach Colin Sangster.

“The problem is that we are missing several of our senior players and that lack of experience shows when you come up against a side like Biggar.”

It was a chance for Kirkcaldy to improve on their one win from four league starts when Gordonians pitched up at Beveridge Park, the Aberdeen side languishing at the bottom of National 2 with not a win to their name.

Kirkcaldy took full advantage with a 29-7 win thanks to a brace of tries from Chris Mann and one each for Thomas Glendinning and Gavin McKenzie with Finlay Smith adding three from four conversion attempts as well as a penalty. That win keeps Kirkcaldy in sixth spot, three points behind fifthplaced Preston Lodge.

By half-time at Maybole, Howe had opened a comfortable 24-0 gap over Carrick and never looked like losing their National 3 clash.

They went on to add 15 points after the break with tries from Cammy Walker (2) and Dave Thomas to add to Jack Todd’s first-half hat-trick, a try from Jake Douglas and conversions from Fraser Ellison and Ryan Venters.

Howe now sit joint third with Berwick in the table, four points behind leaders Greenock Wanderers.

For the second time in a couple of weeks, Strathmore came away with nothing from a match when at least a losing bonus would have been merited.

Caithness and Strathie matched try for try with Gordy McLeod and Grant Anderson crossing for the home side and although Blair Butchart converted both tries by Jordan Lees and Darren Bell, Caithness added a crucial 12 points from the boot of Cameron Ryder whose four penalties denied Strathmore the losing bonus.

There was little between them in the league before the match started at North Inch but you wouldn’t have thought so as Perthshire went down 34-14 against Hillhead/Jordanhill to bounce the Hughenden crew up the table.

Murray Ormiston and Jonny Armitt had the tries, with Adam Dearden converting them both, but Hills hustled in five from Harry Perston, Jonny Agnew, James Reekie and Scott Halliday with Gus Twadell totalling 14 points, adding three conversions and a penalty to his try.

Their one win so far in the league means Shire are still hovering around the relegation zone in third from bottom slot.

Chris Mann bagged two tries in Kirkcaldy’s win over Gordonians.