Last week’s victory over Ayr at Millbrae has got Dundee HSFP thinking about a bid for one of the top three places in Premier One but in the next two weeks at Mayfield there is no room for error.
Dundee have a lop-sided schedule for the second part of the season. The next two games are at home, both with 1pm kick-offs ahead of the international matches.
If their aspirations of a place in next year’s British and Irish Cup are to be taken seriously they need 10 points from the next fortnight, beginning with Boroughmuir this weekend.
A notable part of the Ayr win was that it was achieved without any pro player input.
For the first time this season away from home the defensive effort was as good as that demanded, ensuring that one of the country’s most powerful teams were consigned to their first home defeat and held to under 20 points for the only the third time this season.
Dundee will have trouble keeping up with their frantic scoring rate at Mayfield this season nearly 200 points in the last three games but a bonus should be within striking range.
The perception that there is a significant gap in quality between Premier One and Two was rather undermined with the first weekend of “middle eight” games when three Premier One sides lost, including Stirling County suffering a reverse at Aberdeen Grammar.
It was a bad one as well, with County surrendering a 19-3 advantage. They seek to get back on track at Philiphaugh against a Selkirk team they dismantled easily at Bridgehaugh earlier in the season.Morgan on formGraham Marshall’s team seems to have lost all confidence after a nightmare first half and were comfortably beaten by Edinburgh Accies in their B division opener last week.
In Premier C, Kirkcaldy were 22-0 down to GHA after the first quarter and found that deficit just too tough to haul in, although they managed to salvage a losing bonus by “winning” the last hour 24-6.
It means the Blues are back in the relegation zone on points difference. They have a lop-sided schedule as well, with only three home games in the second part of the season, continuing with a second trip of the season to Biggar, where they lost 32-21 last month.
Premier Three’s in-form team is Morgan, who recorded their third win in a row by ending Howe of Fife’s unbeaten record at Duffus Park in a tight contest last week.
All three victories have been by a penalty goal or less, and they will be hoping for more comfort against bottom side Dunfermline at McKane Park.
Howe have a tough one to bounce back against unbeaten runaway league leaders Whitecraigs.
Perthshire, still in the bottom two on points difference, could do with getting something from Haddington, who lie only two places and seven points above them.
There is only one match in regional leagues this weekend, with unbeaten Caledonia Two Midlands leaders Madras taking on Arbroath.
Fixtures:
Premier A Dundee HSFP v Boroughmuir.
Premier B Selkirk v Stirling County.
Premier C Biggar v Kirkcaldy.
Premier Three Howe of Fife v Whitecraigs, Dunfermline v Morgan, Haddington v Perthshire.
Caledonia Two Arbroath v Madras.