Head coach looking for Ross Sutherland to cross the line against Moray
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John Mann wants to see Ross Sutherland become more clinical at the try line when Moray come to Invergordon tomorrow.
The Stags are yet to score a point in Caledonia North Two this season, having been shut out by the Highland Raptors on the opening day and then seeing their trip to Aberdeenshire last Saturday postponed due to uncertainty around Covid cases.
Thankfully, several tests came back negative, meaning that they will return to action against one of their nearest rivals at the Naval Grounds this weekend, and Mann does not think it will take much of an improvement when the whistle blows to score their fair share of tries.
“After watching the Highland game back, the first half especially was really competitive,” he reasoned.
“If we can play like we did in that first 40 or 50 minutes for the rest of the season, we will be right in the mix at the top of the table.
“We left a lot of points out there with the last pass – we had done all the work to get the scoring opportunities and didn’t capitalise.
“I hope next week I’m talking about a 50-point, end-to-end nail biter, but you just don’t know. There could be a lot of rain and people default to up the jumper rugby.”
As always, conditions will play a part in how the match pans out, but Mann will certainly be hoping his side can dictate the style against sizeable opposition – in the most literal sense.
“I really hope it’s not a slog, because boys are just excited to play rugby again” Mann added.
“I hope they come wanting to play and we can capitalise on a few more of our points.
“They’re always going to have a great pack and be a really physical team. I don’t know what people eat in Elgin but they always tend to be pretty strong, hard lads.
“We just have to do the same as we always try to do and play around them, go through spaces not faces.”
