Biggar 31

Highland 0

Al Stewart

at Hartree Mill

In very taxing conditions Biggar recorded a bonus point win on Saturday over second top Highland with what many spectators believed to be one of their most complete performances of the season.

This was rightly billed as a top of the table clash but incorrectly as a championship decider as there are still 10 games to be played.

Biggar opened with the wind on their backs and from the kick off to the final whistle dominated both territory and possession.

The opening exchanges featured some punishing carries from the Biggar pack. Highland were forced into defence as the aggression, power and control from Biggar seemed to be on a different level as the side sought some recompense for the defeat they suffered in Inverness back in September.

A series of probing runs from the pack saw play confined to the Highland five metre zone before Robbie Orr appeared to score following a neat pass from Andy Jardine.

The pass was adjudged to have been forward however.

Another series of driving plays took Biggar back into the Highland area and after a patient build up prop Richard Bassett managed to crash over for the opening score.

Jardine converted for 7-0.

Lock Craig Borthwick was next to almost score, before the penalty try which took Biggar to 14-0.

And then to compound matters for Highland, referee Changleng gave a yellow card to Highland’s loose head prop as the scrum continued to creak.

Half time saw both sides scurry to the changing rooms for shelter and a fresh set of strips.

Biggar scored again through Ross Jackson who drove over from close range to take Biggar to a 19-0 lead.

Rowan Stewart scored the bonus point winning try.

Rory Hutton, whose footwork and caused Highland some problems previously, created space with another mazy run and with some options available it was Stewart who snapped up the pass to cross in the corner.

The game was now almost out of Highland’s hands but they continued to press forward and for almost the first time in the match they were able to retain possession to pose some problems for the Biggar defence.

In this capacity Biggar were again up to speed, one very brave tackle from Barr on the powerful Rokoduguni being a perfect example of how the side was playing for each other and determined not to concede a point.

The final try, the last play of the afternoon came from a lineout.

Ball won by Orr was quickly shifted by Bogle to Peacock who, as he has done oft before, cruised through a big space to dot the ball down.

Bogle’s conversion took Biggar to 31-0 and the success also marked the end of the match.

There was massive satisfaction gained from the performance and the manner of the win.

Biggar: R. Orr, R. Stewart, R. Hutton, J. Barr, R. Bradford, A. Jardine, D. Reive, D. Voas, C. Mulligan, R. Bassett, C. Borthwick, J. Orr, E. Sanderson, L. Stewart, R. Jackson. Reps: E. Stewart, P. Davidson, A. Peacock, E. Bogle, M. Bertram