Young Bulls do well in tough Highland test

As the sun beat down on Inverness, the Under 18s stretched their legs after a 4 hour trip North to Highland Rugby Club. Always a tough team to play, taking only the 16 players up for the game might have had the young Bulls wondering how they would fair.

The start of the game would have done nothing to settle the team with Highland having a lot of the possession and scoring on the five minute mark. The conversion was missed and the score was 5-0
The Bulls were struggling to get time on the ball with the Highland team very quick at the contact zone and it was only another five minutes before the hosts were over the line for their second score which was again unconverted.
Perhaps the long journey had taken a while to wear off because Hamilton started to waken up to the pace of the game and possession was retained long enough for Angus Colvin to drive over the line and score Hamilton’s first points of the day. Robbie MacDonald slotted the extras and the score was 10-7.

For the next twenty minutes the game and possession started to swing in favour of Hamilton. Highland obviously feeling the pressure took the opportunity rarely taken in pre-season to convert a penalty rather than attempt to score trys taking the score to 13-7.
Hamilton were spending more time in the Highland half than they had been afforded in the first fifteen minutes of the game and by twenty five minutes found themselves in the Highland twenty two with a scrum in their favour. Picking up at the back of the scrum, Number 8, Callum Trim used his size and pace to charge over the line for the Bull’s second score. Robbie MacDonald stepped up and took the conversion from out wide sending the ball between the sticks to take the score for the half to 13-14 to Hamilton.

The second half

We can only assume that Highland’s half time chat was more brutal than Hamilton’s based on the half time score. It certainly seemed to have the effect of firing up the Inverness team. Within 3 minutes Highland managed to power over the Hamilton line. Again missing the conversion the score was now 18-14.
Hamilton appeared to have got on the wrong side of the referee and gave away a number of penalties which handed territorial advantage back to the hosts. They also appeared to have forgotten how to tackle around the legs and as a result by ten minutes into the half Highland had scored again making the score 23-14. I think it would fair to say the Home team had their tails up and Hamilton struggled to get either the territory or possession that they had enjoyed at the end of the first half. Highland managed a further two scores by the twenty five minute mark in the half and the Bulls had to gather their thoughts and energy for the last 10 minutes of the game.

The few firm words with themselves behind the post seemed to have worked because the tackles were lower and as a result Hamilton forced Highland to the ground and to make mistakes. Hamilton then used their possession to attack the flanks of the Highland defence. This concerted pressure taking Hamilton into the Highland twenty two allowing them a lineout ten metres from the Highland line. Winning the line out, the ball fell to Callum Trim who once again used his direct running and power to get over the Highland line to score Hamilton’s third try. With the conversion being narrowly missed the game finished Highland 33-19.

This was the last preseason game before the league starts next weekend. Once again the coaches gained vital information about the players and the teams strengths. The objective in playing tough opposition is that you learn very quickly about your strengths and weaknesses and over all the strengths of this squad look good. A mixture of the young players coming into the team and the experience of the older members of the squad is providing an image of a well-rounded squad. There is always plenty to work on but overall there is a positive vibe about the season ahead and our opposition should watch out for this particular batch of young Bulls.
A special thanks to the parents and family that made the journey North to support the team. It is greatly appreciated.