This wasn’t exactly the start to the season that those occupying the new stand seats at Duffus or the bank railings at Mayfield had anticipated, but it doesn’t get any easier from here on.
Both the leading Midlands clubs in BT National One have had their struggles this year with depleted squads struggling against well-resourced and ambitious clubs within what has turned out to be a far more competitive division than expected.
It’s just Howe of Fife’s fortune that they’re hitting a transitional phase after six or seven seasons when the squad was reasonably stable and several key players matured at the same time. Now long-term injuries, absences and departures to other clubs or climes have left them rebuilding just as their rivals seem to be on the up.
Without a win and with just two bonus points to their name, they face an Edinburgh Accies side that might be the best resourced team outside the Premiership and so far have tasted defeat only once, to the unbeaten league leaders Jed-Forest.
There’s already three sides detached at the foot of the division and after Accies visit on Saturday, Howe face an absolutely crucial three weeks in which they play their two fellow strugglers, Stewarts Melville and Hamilton.
Dundee High had aspirations of challenging for promotion but a crippling injury list has meant they have just a 50 per cent record after six games.
What they are capable of was illustrated in scoring over 100 points in their first two games, but Jed clearly showed they were the class of the division at least in the early going in last week’s meeting at Riverside Park.
Musselburgh are the visitors to Mayfield on Saturday, lying just a point above High after a crushing home win over Hamilton last week.
In National Two Kirkcaldy are ninth after six games but 12 points clear of the relegation zone, and scoring points continues to be no problem for the Blues.
Only one team in the division can beat their 229 points and only one side has more than their five try bonus points. If the defence can be shored up a little – and it hasn’t been that bad – starting with the visit of Preston Lodge to Beveridge Park this week, then the Blues should start to climb the table rapidly.
It’s fair to say there was a fair degree of frustration let out by Perthshire in last week’s 69-0 romp over Greenock Wanderers, their first win of the season.
A number returning from injury to strengthen the side certainly was a boost to the squad and hopefully it’s the start to a steady climb out of the bottom three. Lasswade are the visitors to the Inch this weekend.
Caithness and Gordonians have a firm grip over the top of Caledonia Division One with Glenrothes, Strathmore and Alloa in pursuit, although the Aberdeen side have won all five of their games including a win in Wick.
Strathmore are at Countesswells this week and Glenrothes at Earlsfield, while Harris got running and off the bottom at last with a hard fought win at Aberdeen Wanderers and go to Stonehaven to meet Mackie.
Grangemouth and Hillfoots are unbeaten in Caley Two Midlands and both should stay out front, although Crieff & Strathearn will prove a tough nut to crack at Tillycoultry.
In the Caley Three divisions, Waid FP and the Dundee Uni Medics unbeaten in the North, meet at Anstruther while in the South Stirling County/Bridgehaugh are out in front.
BT League matches this weekend (all kick offs 3pm)
National League One: Dundee HSFP v Musselburgh, Howe of Fife v Edinburgh Accies.
National League Two: Kirkcaldy v Preston Lodge.
National League Three: Perthshire v Lasswade.
Caledonia League One: Mackie Academy FP v Harris Academy FP, Alloa v Glenrothes, Gordonians v Strathmore, Dunfermline v Caithness, Carnoustie HSFP v Aberdeen Wanderers.
Caledonia League Two Midlands: Blairgowrie v Howe of Fife II, Kinross v Panmure, Hillfoots v Crieff & Strathearn, Grangemouth Stags v Falkirk II, Kirkcaldy II v Morgan Academy FP.
Caledonia League Three Midlands North: Arbroath v Stobswell, Madras v Perthshire II, Waid Academy FP v Dundee University Medics, Angus Development v Aberdfeldy.
Caledonia League Three Midlands South: Fife Southern v Glenrothes II, Stirling County III v Alloa II, Hillfoots II v Bannockburn, Bo’ness v Grangemouth II.
