Dundee High School may have been defeated in the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools final but are determined to ensure it will be their only reverse of the season.
In front of a large and vocal travelling support from Dundee that formed the majority of the 5,609 crowd in Murrayfield’s West Stand, the High boys made a furious second-half comeback before losing out 31-17 to defending champions George Watson’s College.
Back rowers Brewster White and Ollie Davidson scored the tries within two minutes of each other midway through the second half, with Duncan Leese converting both and adding a penalty.
The combative No 8 White was later taken off on the Murrayfield stretcher buggy after a concerningly long spell of treatment on the pitch and was found to have sustained ankle ligament and soft tissue damage, which means he will be out for four to six weeks.
Captain Chris Jollands is determined that the team use the springboard of the final to complete a successful season.
“We maybe got a bit carried away with the occasion early on in the game,” said the skipper, rueing the two early tries conceded.
“But that’s the first defeat we’ve had to a Scottish team this season and we’re determined it will be the last. The aim is now to push and complete the season unbeaten.”
Four or five of the team are likely to be available to coach Ewan Jack for next season’s campaign, but it was the last chance for the team’s two Scotland under-18 squad players, Jollands and Leese.
High director of sport Alan Campbell believes that both have a shot at getting back to Murrayfield in another guise, however.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see them out on that pitch sometime in the future playing as professionals,” he said.
Although they struggled for possession from Watson’s strong set-pieces throughout the game, High were held up over the line three times in the game, a reminder of the school’s last Scottish final against Dollar Academy in 2004 when the same thing happened agonisingly on the last play of the game.
For rector Dr John Halliday, the occasion of the final was “a vindication of everything we do.”
“The boys gave absolutely everything, displaying immense courage, spirit and skill,” he said.
“The support from the school community pupils, former pupils, staff and parents was outstanding in every way and gave a tremendous boost to the boys on the pitch.
“My thanks, congratulations and commiserations go to the team and the coaches. Losing the game of rugby was heart-breaking, but they were true winners in everything else.”