Highland made a major statement about the state of rugby in the Caledonia after recording a league double in deepest Border country where they saw off the challenge of Gala in a low scoring affair at Netherdale in appalling conditions.
The Canal Park side eased through in spite of the driving rain and wind to emerge as 16-10 winners to the delight of backs coach Chris Brogan.
He said: “It was a good character win in which we managed the elements better than they did. Netherdale is a very special place to come and play, winning makes it more so.
“We had some real heroes out there, including stand off Scott Fraser who kicked 11 points and full back Craig Findlater who normally plays on the wing, but came in at short notice, scoring a great try in the first half.
“But our real stand-out was lock Tom Smith who was the man of the match. The victory keeps us in the hunt for our second place in National League 1 which, considering it’s our first season in such elevated company, is no mean feat.”
The Inverness side certainly looked quite comfortable on the well-manicured Border pitch, taking control from the outset and easing into the lead through the immaculate Fraser who has had a season to be proud of in the top flight of the national leagues in the number 10 jersey.
His second successful kick at goal gave the Canal Park a six point lead which quickly became 13-0 when Findlater came into the line before racing through the static home defence for a try converted by who else but the reliable Fraser.
Gala hit back with a converted try to make it 13-7 at half time and it was still anyone’s game.
Highland dug deep in the second half, seeing off Border raids in very difficult conditions.
Not surprisingly the action was limited to the occasional foray in the second half, with both sides happy to exchange penalties, leaving the home side to reflect on a second defeat at the hands of the intrepid Highlanders who won the corresponding game in Inverness 34-18.
And while trips to the Borders may no longer hold the terrors of yesteryear, this win is a confirmation of the nothing less than amazing progress the Canal Park side has made in the last eight years.
For older supporters of Highland a trip to Galashiels was a journey down memory lane made on regular basis by old favourite Nairn McEwan who commuted there in the early 1970s to play for the Borderers before going on to get his reward in the shape of 20 caps for Scotland, and then going on to be the first national coach in 1978.
McEwan, who died in May 2018 while still living in the Inverness area, will however best be remembered for the contribution he made in a number six jersey at Canal Park.
