It is unbearably close and tantalisingly just out of reach, but there is no question that Dundee HSFP have put down a marker in 2016 even if the arithmetic does not work out for them to return to the top league, writes Steve Scott.
Five consecutive wins even with head coach Colin Sangster hors de combat as he recovers from surgery has seen High get within touching distance of a promotion play-off to get back into the BT Premiership, although they are dependent on the actions of others on this crucial penultimate weekend.
Last week’s bonus point win over Marr made up five of the 11-point gap they had to bridge on the Troon side, while underlining the Mayfield team as the in-form side in BT National One as the season comes to a close.
This week Jed-Forest who somewhat surprisingly bowed out of the race themselves only last week with an unexpected home loss to Aberdeen Grammar are the visitors to Mayfield, with already-crowned champions Watsonians due to visit in the final match on April 16.
Marr, meanwhile, wind up their campaign tomorrow with a visit to Stewart’s Melville. If they win there, there is nothing more that High can do and the Ayrshire club will play Gala for a place in the Premiership.
However, a loss at Inverleith coupled with a High win over Jed will set up a chance for the Dundee side to snatch the play-off spot in a fortnight’s time.
It is never an exact science predicting club rugby from season to season as players move on and move around, but even if it doesn’t work out for High it has been hugely encouraging for them for a strong campaign in 2016-17.
After a slowish start, a young team several are 20 or under anchored by experienced players like skipper Alan Brown, scrum-half Andy Dymock, No 8 Dan Levison and centre Nick Alston has shown it can play in any kind of conditions, witness the bonus point win through forward power in the rain and wind against Marr last week only seven days after they romped to 70 points against Kelso playing free-running rugby.
This season may be a year too early for the youngsters, but they look in great shape going forward.
It has been a sobering few months for Howe of Fife after a promising start to life in National League One, but in the end that early run has served to keep them safe.
They haven’t won a game in the league since November 7 as injuries have decimated the squad and the softer grounds have slowed their pace of game.
Peebles and Kelso have, however, run out of fixtures and already fill the relegation places, which allows Howe to regroup with the pressure off for the final three league matches, all away from Duffus Park, and starting with Aberdeen Grammar at Rubislaw this weekend.
The question then for Howe is how they approach next season, when their community stand and clubhouse will be ready and they have to find a way to build strength in depth and extra power to cope with the demands of the division.
Matters are still to be decided in Caledonia One but it looks like still-unbeaten Highland, despite a massive fixture backlog, are in position to take the title.
Both they and Glenrothes, in third, have four games left and the clubs meet at Carleton Park this week. Four wins in their remaining games could see Glens sneak second place, but Highland can afford a loss in Fife and still overhaul both their hosts and Gordonians.
Alloa are unbeaten in Caley Two Midlands but still lie second to Harris, and make up one of their two games in hand at Grangemouth. The meeting of the top two at Earlsfield next week will be the decider.