Banff Rugby Club defeated by high-flying Highland side
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Highland 2XV 24 Banff RFC 5
Banff RFC put in a spirited performance against a typically strong Highland team in Inverness on Saturday, leaving with a disappointing result but encouraged by their display overall.
Banff started the game against the high flying Highlanders with real confidence, taking the game to them with strong running from Ewan Shearer and Richard Rees.
This, plus Liam Ross and John Swaffield's slick line-out work, gave Banff a good platform to work from.
The visitors actually dominated much of the territory and possession in the first half and had a Shearer try disallowed after a nice offload from Gordon Robertson.
The game did become quite fierce at points, and after good physicality from Robbie Stuart and Stuart Ferrier, a Highland's prop was sin binned for coming round the side at a ruck.
Banff should have gone into the break level, but Highland managed to just break through and make the most of an advantage, their second row scoring.
In the second half and with the wind against them, Banff found the challenge harder. Andrew Morrison and Michael Golebiewski worked hard in defense, tackling and covering well.
Connor Riddell and Sean Clark also held up Highland players over the line.
As the game wore on, both sides lost a player for backchat to the referee, Gordon Robertson the Banff player perhaps unlucky to see yellow.
Highland then ran in two more tries after good pressure and then an error from a Banff kick.
Banff can take a lot of heart from the performance. Scott Findlater continues to do well in the back row and both Kieran and Connor Riddell are having good seasons.
It was Connor who got the consolation try for Banff, scything through their backline to score his eighth league try this season.
Banff travel to Ross Sutherland this weekend for their final away game before a series of home matches.
