Ross Sutherland three games away from reaching final at Murrayfield as they prepare to face North Police in Invergordon
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COACH Murray Kennedy says Ross Sutherland only being three games away from playing at Murrayfield is a huge incentive for them to reach the National Bowl final.
The Stags are set to take on North Police in the Caledonia North Bowl semi final at the Naval Grounds in Invergordon on Saturday with kick-off at 12.30pm.
Ross Sutherland won the National Bowl in 2018 when they defeated Wigtownshire at Murrayfield.
Now they are looking to replicate that run to the final like they did six years ago and have a chance of winning the trophy again.
Kennedy played in the final, and is one of a handful of men remaining at the club from the greatest day in their history.
He says they have been telling the current squad how much that day meant to Ross Sutherland and would love it if they could do it again.
He said: "Myself and my brothers Ali and David played in the final along with John Mann, Aonghas MacIver and David Gill who are still involved in the club.
"We have the experience of it and it is a galvanising effect with the carrot of Murrayfield in front of us.
"If we win this, then we are into the North final and then the chance of the national semi final, and then going to Murrayfield.
"We are three games away from getting to Murrayfield.
"We have to face the semi final against North Police before we can get through. We won't get ahead of ourselves but if we can keep playing well we should be fine, but it is the end of the season we will be judged."
Ross Sutherland eased into the semi finals of the North Bowl with a 65-15 victory at Turriff last weekend.
Kennedy says it was an excellent performance against a team they had not encountered before.
He said: "It was the first time I can recall playing them.
"Against an unknown entity, you can worry about it and be apprehensive, you don't know what you will get.
"But the boys were comprehensive about the way they went about things.
"We were clinical when we needed to be and put on a big score early on.
"Captain Andy Mair was brilliant as he scored a hat-trick as well as the first two tries. It set the tone for the rest of the team.
"He was meaning business and the rest of the boys meant business."
Ross Sutherland take on North Police at the Naval Grounds in Invergordon at 12:30pm on Saturday with both teams top of their respective conferences.
Kennedy is expecting a tough encounter, but is confident they will come out on top.
He said: "North Police are top of the equivalent conference to us, they will be good and we expect to face a quality outfit.
"The four teams likely to be involved in the league play-offs are all in the semi finals of the North Bowl so it will be tough."
