1st & 2nd XV's return to action a week today
As we wave goodbye to our Centenary Year 2022, we start our next 100 years on the field on the 7th January.
The 1st XV will welcome GHK to Canal Park for the first time since 2018, Kick Off is at 3pm, but first up there 2nd XV (Raptors) will host Banff RFC on the grass pitch with Kick Off at 2pm.
The Raptors are currently top the table having played 10 games, with Moray lying 2nd 2 points back but having played one game less.
The Raptors last game out, 3rd Dec, was a 28-20 loss away at Moray and the team will be looking to get back to winning ways against 2nd bottom Banff who have played 11 games.
Whilst its fair to say that Banff have had some heavy defeats this season, we need to look at their recent form when they beat Ross Sutherland in Banff, whilst losing by just 3 points away to North Police Scotland.
Having said that, the Raptors must target a bonus point win as it’s now probable that bonus points will play a large part in who secures the title this season.
The Dundee game scheduled for the 17th December was lost to the weather conditions, with the Dundee game now rescheduled for 1st April. The club will be hoping that we don’t lose more fixtures to the weather which would extend the season any further.
This means the last time the 1st XV took the field was the comprehensive victory over Aberdeen Grammar at Canal Park back on the 10th of December. The team will be looking to carry the same form into next Saturdays game.
GHK beat the Highland 24-13 at Old Anniesland Glasgow. Highland will not have been happy with many aspects of their game on that day. The only real positive being a much improved 2nd half performance.
Highland currently lie 5th in the table with GHK in 9th. If we look at the last 4 games each team has won 2 and lost 2, with GHK’s latest victory being over Stewart’s Melville in Glasgow.
I was at the loss at GHK, they like to give the ball some air, and they are a real threat if you give them space to operate. With former Scotland Prop Peter Wright as coach you know that they can deliver up front with solid set piece rugby with a hard edge.
Then again so can we. I also think it’s unlikely that Highland will be as poor as they were when they lost the previous fixture. I’m pretty sure GHK will face a much sterner challenge from Highland this time round.
This is another game that Davie Carson will want to win as usual the expectation should always to be to win at home with the backing of a great home crowd.
All in all this has every indication of being a fast and fiercely competitive game.
Why not come along to cheer on both teams.
Saturday 7th January
Canal Park, Bught Road, Inverness, IV3 5SS
Highland Raptors v Banff RFC, 2pm KO
Highland v GHK RFC, 3pm KO
Please note the 3rd XV have completed the 1st half of their league schedule, but due to the way Cale North Div 3 works they cannot start the 2nd Half of the season until all the other teams have completed the first round of matches, which should be early February weather permitting.