Not even the full, vivid rainbow perfectly bisecting the sky above Meggetland on Saturday could endear the place to Dundee HSFP after their third dispiriting reverse there in just over six months.
This 37-17 loss to Boroughmuir, High’s first defeat of the new National League season, follows on from the 40-20 thrashing in February that played a big part in them being consigned to a relegation play-off in the RBS Premiership.
The play-off against Hawick was, of course, also at Meggetland and not the least of detriments that resulted from that dark day is that it forced the club to return there this weekend.
Still, there was enough to make them at home this third visit of 2013. Former coach Ian Rankin, now SRU vice-president, was there to speak at a lunch, and was lauded by his former assistant at Mayfield Bruce Aitchison, now head coach of Muir, in the match programme.
Former Scotland head coach and ex-Dundee HSFP player and coach Frank Hadden, now free to back the High again as his sons have moved on from Boroughmuir, was also present.
Still, Saturday was the first clear sign that High’s transition after nine prominent player departures in the summer will not be seamless, as new head coach Colin Robertson had warned.
With relatively few alterations, the High pack is able to be competitive with any team in the National League and, with a couple of distinct tiers within the division already emerging, will be overwhelming for some.
However, the hinge and the backs are still clearly a work in progress, and it was noticeable how Muir carried far more threat when they moved the ball at pace, particularly when ex-Kirkcaldy wing Jordan Webster got the ball.
High have one new gem in their full-back Bryce Hosie, who even had the home fans purring with admiration at his bright and enterprising play. Three times he caught Boroughmuir’s kick chase napping with clever chips over the top and regathers, and looked the most dangerous open-field runner on the pitch.
He also booted four kicks from five, although this week his opposite number David Reekie was up to that standard with seven from eight.
Muir always looked to be just the better team, but Dundee had cause to rue two periods either side of half-time when Hosie’s kicking and the pack’s power got them within a yard of the home line, but some admirably tenacious defence and a touch of white line fever meant there was no points return on either occasion.
The key to the match might have been even more specific than that; approaching half-time, down a man with Alex Wright in the bin for an off-the-ball dig, Danny Levison could have strolled in on a clear overlap had the ball reached him. That would have had High probably 19-13 up at half-time and able to dictate terms.
Instead, Boroughmuir’s second try scored by Webster came just as the sin-bin period was ending after the change-over, and, although High did finally break through when Muir were also down a man as Callum Bowie went over in the corner, the home side were always able to keep the visitors at arms’ length.
Two late tries put a gloss on the home side’s performance, which leaves them third in the division and Dundee fourth. However High are already six points in arrears of Watsonians, who have three try-bonus point wins already bagged, and host High at Myreside in a fortnight.