Ellon bid to pile on Groats Road agony

Crucial month as Highland go for glory double

Highland head coach Davie Carson insists his side’s form this month will go a long way towards determining their hopes of winning back-to-back promotions.

The Inverness outfit returns to action in tomorrow’s trip to Peebles ahead of next week’s crucial home match against leaders Biggar, who are nine points clear of Highland, although Carson’s men have a game in hand.

With the Canal Park outfit ending January with a trip to fourthplaced Dumfries Saints, Carson knows it could be a defining month in his side’s hopes of claiming one of the two promotion spots.

Carson said: “It’s a massive month for us but over the last four or five years, every time we have had a bigger challenge and bigger games we have risen to the occasion every time.

“I think everyone is thinking about what’s at stake. It’s human nature, especially with the work we have done to get up to where we are now.

“We know there is a high possibility we could go up but we need to keep winning. It can soon change if we lose two or three games, as other teams winning can soon catch up. The guys have worked hard over the Christmas break. They have put in a lot of effort and we have had three or four good sessions since we came back.

“They are looking forward to it.”

Highland triumphed 22-15 when they hosted tomorrow’s fifth-placed opponents in September, although they left it late against the Borders outfit with a second-half hat-trick from centre Rob Eatough required to come out on top.

Carson, who is without the injured Calum Macpherson and Andrew Findlater, expects a tough encounter at the Gytes.

He added: “It was a close game up in Inverness and we only got the bonus point with one minute to go.

“They have a big, physical pack and we have talked about the way they bullied us in the first half of that game, although we scored three cracking tries to seal the win and bonus point.

“We know it’s going to be difficult but we know what to expect. Our game has improved massively since then, although I’m sure theirs has as well.” Strathmore are favourites to land the Caley Division 1 title but, for supporters in the northeast, the game of the day tomorrow is at Groats Road in Aberdeen where Wanderers meet Ellon.

For Wanderers it constitutes a must-win game in their battle to avoid relegation, while their Aberdeenshire opponents will be much more relaxed, enjoying the comfort of a top-four place in their first season back in the division.

Ellon coach Craig Parslow said: “Our youngsters in the team have done well, inspired no doubt by our veteran prop Nicki Fraser who doubles as player and forwards coach.

“He is missing this big game due to injury, as is fellow forward James Hanshaw. They will be missed but I’ll back us to repeat the 36-16 win we enjoyed at The Meadows on September 29.”

In Caley 2 North, leaders Highland 2nds will be expected to maintain their title push at the expense of Moray at Canal Park, even if under championship rules, the Inverness side cannot be promoted, leaving the way clear Mackie FPs and Garioch to fight it out.

Garioch can pull clear of the Stonehaven side, who are not in action, with a home win against Ross Sutherland.

Elsewhere, bottom side Banff meet North Police Scotland at Duff House and RAF Lossiemouth entertain Aberdeen Grammar 2nds at the base.

In Caley 3 North, leaders Aberdeenshire are 11 points ahead of secondplaced Aberdeen University, a situation not expected to change after their respective games with Gordonians and Kinloss Eagles.

Peterhead, the runaway Caley 4 North leaders, are at home to Inverness Craig Dunain.

“Always risen to the occasion”