The controversy of defeat almost a decade ago stills rankles but a new generation of the Dundee High School rugby team can make history tonight at Murrayfield.
The first XV, captained by Chris Jollands and coached by Ewan Jack, are the fourth team from the school to reach the biggest game in Scottish schools rugby the final of the Brewin Dolphin Cup on the main international pitch.
Three previous finals have ended in heartache for the school but the last of those, back in 2004 against Dollar Academy, is the one that still hurts most.
Then, a High team which featured the Scotland international-to-be Richie Vernon believed they’d scored a decisive try early in the second half through Colin Goudie only for the referee to judge that the stand-off hadn’t grounded the ball.
Dollar went on to narrowly win 13-10 they’d also beaten the High School 27-14 in the previous year’s final and it’s taken nine years to get back to this year’s final against defending champions George Watson’s College..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
https://youtube.com/watch?v=2Kkzfjwf5PM
The school’s present director of sport Alan Campbell was at the 2004 final with a group of boys from the school he worked at then and recalls it well.
“We were late arriving and got seats looking right down that goal-line and we all thought that Colin Goudie scored a good try,” he said. “It was terrible luck on coaches Bruce Beckett and Neil Gallagher and that team to lose that game.”
Much of the the present High first XV have already won their spurs with a run to the semi-finals of the competition last year, and two hard-fought victories over two of the leading Edinburgh schools on the way to this year’s final.
“The quarter-final against Edinburgh Academy was a pretty tough game, winning 24-10 away from home against a strong team, but the semi-final against George Heriot’s was a real test,” continued Alan.
“It was on the back pitches at Murrayfield, just before the Scotland game against Japan, and there was a big crowd and a big sense of occasion for the boys to deal with but they did so superbly.”
Tries from Jamie Clarkson, Ronan Joy, Adam Powrie and Marshall MacLeod, with centre Duncan Leese adding two conversions and a penalty, secured the semi 27-12 and booked the return date at Murrayfield, but this time on the big pitch.
The High team feature two present Scotland Under-18 squad members in centre Leese and skipper and flanker Jollands, while scrum-half Henry Sampson is in the Scotland Under-17 set-up, and there’s a host of players who have represented Caledonia at age group levels.
Ewan Jack, the Howe of Fife centre on his days off, is the head coach of the team.
“Ewan’s done a fantastic job with the guys, and getting to the semi-finals of the cup last year before losing to Merchiston was some achievement and maybe a little ahead of schedule,” continued Alan.
“We discuss the team a lot but Ewan has final say in selection, although what we’ve done this year is try to create a cup squad of players which has given everyone game time.
“It’s not a team where the backs or the forwards are the dominant area the guys play their best when there’s a strong link and play an all-round game.”
Watson’s are coached by former Scotland A stand-off Ally Donaldson, who also coached Currie to the Scottish league title, and will be well-drilled, added Alan.
“They’re always a very slick team and do the basics well,” he said. “We were due to play them a couple of weeks ago but with the semi-finals taking place around that weekend the games were put back.
“We’re under no illusions about how tough the task is going to be, but there’s a real determination to make our mark this year and the boys will be giving everything to bring the cup back.”
The boys won’t want for support at the national stadium with seven 70-seater buses filled for the trip from the school, a parents’ bus also packed out and another travelling with members of the Dundee HSFP club.
The final starts at 7.45pm and is preceded by the Under-16 Final which also features George Watson’s College, taking on St Aloysius Academy from Glasgow.
Thursday’s Courier will have full coverage of the game.