Highland come back from 14 points down to earn bonus point victory
HEAD coach Dave Carson praised Highland for coming back from 14 points down at half time to secure a bonus point victory against Boroughmuir with a 22-19 win in National One on Saturday.
Highland had to dig deep as they went into the break 19-5 down at Canal Park before scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half to secure victory.
Fergus Riach, Callum Carson, Gordon Gregor and Magnus Henry scored the four tries which gave Highland maximum points in their victory. Scott Fraser converted one of the four tries.
The win means Highland have moved up to eighth place and are now two points from safety, with three teams being relegated due to league reconstruction next season.
Carson was delighted not just to fight back at half time to pick up victory, but also picking up a bonus point which he says could prove vital at the end of the campaign.
“We need to pick up five points in each of our next five home games,” he said.
“We played well in the first half, but left three tries out there and we only managed to score one.
“Being 19-5 down at half time, we had to fight hard in the second half to turn the score around. We nulled them after the break and scored three quick tries at the start of the second half.
“It was horrific weather conditions for both teams and there wasn’t much exciting rugby being played. Getting the bonus point win gives everyone a boost.”
Highland are not in action next weekend due to Scotland playing Fiji at Murrayfield, with their next game against Gala on November 9.
Carson says he is confident that Highland can escape relegation this season and knows home form will be crucial.
He said: “The weekend off will give the boys time to recover before we take on Gala at home in two weeks time.
“Apart from the top three in the league, the rest of the division are of similar quality and we will be playing those teams in our remaining home matches.
“We will look to take five points from each of them, starting with Gala.”
Elsewhere last weekend, Highland 3rd XV suffered a 46-0 at Stornoway while Inverness Craig Dunain lost 47-5 to Moray 2nd XV.