Highland v Mackie

Having lost 106-0 at Redcloak earlier in the season, this was going to be a tough ask for the visiting Mackie team.

The Mackie team have been training well and performing well although results haven't shown this.
The pitch at Canal Park was wet, if it was a horse race the going would be classed as soft! This coach thinks soft is an understatement in the least.

Pre match warm up complete the boys were in good fettle, all very positive and confidence was high.
The game started and the visiting team were in to their stride early, the set piece of scrum and lineout were working well, the scrum in particular was causing Highland all sorts of problems. Stand off Mair made good use of the ball he was getting, the forwards made good ground and retained possession well. Highland were always a danger and were rapid on the counter attack. The mackie team were the ones to open the scoring mair, intercepted on the Higland 10m line and set off for the line, The usual quick lad struggled in the mud and was caught well in to the opponents 22, Highland give away a penalty which Reddish popped over the bar, 0-3.
This score seemed to kick start the home team and they scored tries. conversions and a penal;ty to the value of 31 points by the interval. The game was not one way traffic by and shape or form and after some sustained pressure by Mackie Prop Sadio crossed the white wash while fellow prop Calum Reddish added the extras
Half time 31-10

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, Mackie doing all the hard work gaining territory through good phase play from the forwards and backs then for Highland to turn over the ball and score on the counter. All very frustrating to watch!
The visitors weren't finished and scored possibly the best try of the match. Good interlink play between the forwards and backs saw winger Adam Hunter score in the corner.
Full time Highland 62-15 Mackie

A disappointing result in the respect of the way the boys played and dominated areas of the game but very pleasing that such a big improvement has been made by this group of players since the two clubs last meeting. The Highland coaches were full of praise for the lads and that lifted their spirits especially when you realize you've just scored more points than any other team has against Highland all season.

Mackie host Hillfoots next week in a crucial game, if they perform as they did today there will only be one outcome.