Ross Sutherland prepare to move up level as new rugby season starts
ROSS Sutherland are looking to show that they can compete at a higher level as they begin their Caledonia Region Division One campaign against Ellon at The Naval Grounds tomorrow afternoon.
The Stags have been promoted from Caledonia North Two to play in Caledonia One as they start their campaign in Invergordon with kick-off at 1.30pm.
Head coach David Kennedy said after a successful campaign last season when they also reached the National Bowl semi final, they want to show they belong in Caledonia One.
He said: “We are ready to get stuck in.
“We have had a good pre-season to prepare for this league which is going to be tough. It was a long season last year and in the end with the run we had in the bowl and play-offs, the guys tailed off a bit with performances.
“What we did show is we can compete at that level against the likes of Kinloss and North Police.
We showed that we are capable of competing in the level that we have gone up to.
“It won’t be easy and the challenge for us is to ensure those performances are not a one-off against the big teams last year.
“We will look to keep the same standard week in and week out at this level. That will be the challenge for us this year.”
Ross Sutherland have kept the majority of their squad from last season, but have lost captain Andy Mair, as he is relocating from the area.
But Kennedy is confident in the team he has with a number of youth players ready to make the step up.
“We are losing our captain but we have boys who come up and step up.
“We have five under-18 boys who played for us last season.
“This is their second year of them playing in the first team squad and you can see the experience grow in those lads which is a big bonus for us.
“I want us to be competitive and improve at the end of the season. I want us to come away saying we were a better team than we were last season.
“As a team and individuals, the challenge we set the players is can we a better team than last season.
“ If we do that, we will be thereabouts in this league, in terms of league positions, we are capable of competing. I want us to improve.”
With Caithness and Highland 2nd XV also in the same division, Kennedy is also looking forward to a number of north derbies during the 2024/25 campaign.
He said: “There are always good games against Caithness and it is good we are playing the likes of them and Highland 2nd XV.
“It is great Highland rugby is so strong right now.
“In terms of where Highland and Moray are we want to look at moving up the leagues.”
