Highland Rugby Club head coach Dave Carson ready to ‘give it a crack’ in the Scottish Cup as first team return to action after National One relegation
Highland Rugby Club’s head coach Dave Carson will rouse his relegated squad for what could be one last fling this season in the Scottish Cup.
The Canal Park team went down in the best possible manner, with two rousing end of campaign victories not enough to spare National One status.
With a rash of pull-outs from the cup competition, Highland head down to face Glasgow Accies knowing, in theory, they might be just one or two wins away from a Murrayfield showpiece final.
With Gala and Biggar the latest to withdraw, only five teams – Highland, Heriot’s, Dundee, Ayr and tomorrow’s hosts – are left competing for the trophy.
Accies, though, will present a formidable test this weekend.
“I think there has been just a general lack of interest, given the timing of it,” Carson said.
“The Borders clubs said at the beginning of the season they wouldn't enter because of the Sevens’ commitments and, with the Premiership having 12 teams, they still have a number of matches to play.
“We went for it and we will go through with the fixture. You could see it far enough now after a long season and three weeks since our last game
“We’ve been training but more on the fun side, but we’ll go down and give it a crack – and give the young boys a wee taste of it for next season.
“They are a good side, similar to ourselves in that they play good running rugby. They throw the ball about and go side-to-side, with a great set of backs.
“I don’t know how they will approach it, whether they are winding down or see it as a chance for a bit of silverware and a day out at Murrayfield.
“I’ve just said to the guys that we don’t want to end the season on a hammering from a good Glasgow side and then have it on your mind right through to pre-season.
“We have a good gameplan and we’ll see what happens.”
Carson is proud of Highland’s finish to National One, with a 43-15 win at Dundee followed by a tremendous 26-14 triumph at home to Peebles.
Results elsewhere confirmed Highland’s fate, but Carson feels his young and developing squad could well benefit from taking a step back to stride forwards.
“The final day at Canal park was absolutely tremendous, a brutal game with two sides desperate to win,” he said.
“Luckily we came out on the right side of it in front of the biggest crowd of the season. The place was absolutely jumping.
“The result from Boroughmuir came in and regardless of what we had done, we were down.
“Looking at it dispassionately, it is probably the place we need to be next season with the young guys coming up.
“It gives them a chance to bed in, away from the ferocity of National One. There are three Premiership sides coming down and with all the semi-pros still in about that league, it is too big a step for them at this point in time.
“We have a lot of good under 18s coming up who will be blooded in National Two. It will still be difficult, certainly not easy, but it won’t be on the level of National One.”