The performance by what looked on paper to be a weakened side last week suggested that Dundee HSFP have the wherewithal to get back in the National League promotion race but the real examination begins at Selkirk.
High have three successive away matches to negotiate, first at Philiphaugh, then at the windswept, exposed Hartreemill in Biggar, and finally in the more salubrious surroundings of Glasgow’s leafy west end against Hillhead Jordanhill.
Selkirk look easily the toughest of those, as they lie third, having looked impressive in some games, but badly mauled in their meetings with the top two of Boroughmuir and Watsonians.
Meanwhile, High overcame key absences last week to put in what head coach Colin Robertson described as their best performance of the season.
Andy Dymock, Richie McIver, Chris Cumming and Steve Longwell, all four key, experienced men, weren’t available but the young players that plugged the gaps were too good for Peebles.
McIver and Cumming return to augment the pack but, after five successive home wins, Robertson agrees it’s time to get some results away from home.
“We are planning to perform more fully on the road and are using last week’s strong performance as the bench mark,” he said.
“Last week was encouraging, with so many young players playing well. We now have even more competition for places. Selkirk will be tough to beat but we are up for it and have certainly prepared well with our game approach.”
Josh Rutnagur did a fine job deputising for Dymock and continues, while Anthony Kent again covers for Longwell. The Fife derby in the Championship finds Howe of Fife and Kirkcaldy still occupying third and fourth respectively.
Howe have owned this fixture in the last couple of seasons, since the Blues came down to the third tier, but the margins were tight last year, Kirkcaldy coming within an unconverted try in their last visit last March.
The battle of the fleet young Blues against their equally pacy Howe counterparts should be worth the admission, and there’s no question Kirkcaldy have improved this season.
Howe’s aspirations of catching Jedburgh, who should complete the first half of the season with nine wins from nine, will not tolerate anything but victory and a bonus.
Perthshire’s stay at the top of Caledonia One lasted just a week but that was due to them failing to get a try bonus in a real scrap at Morgan, the home side coming out of the contest with a losing bonus point.
In the meantime, Dunfermline took the full five points from their home match against Ellon to go back to the top but not with the ease that many had predicted. They will face the same examination asPerthshire did at Alloway Place this weekend, while Shire are at Stonehaven to take on Mackie FP. The main pursuers of the top two are Orkney, who are home to St Andrews University, and Strathmore, who host Caithness.
Grangemouth’s home win over Glenrothes ended one of the two unbeaten records in Division Two Midlands and allowed Harris to move into second place but with Hillfoots still six points clear at the top after they had to tough out a win at home to Dundee University.
They can stretch that this week when they finally host Glens while, just four miles away, Harris are at Alloa seeking to keep the pressure on.
The Dundee students bagged a creditable try bonus point in defeat to Hillfoots and take on a Panmure side whose form fluctuates wildly.
In the lower leagues, Howe of Fife IIs still have a 100% record in Division Three Midlands, six wins, each with a bonus point, and lead Carnoustie HSFP.
Perthshire IIs lead Division Four with four wins out of four.