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| Highland celebrate cup first 22 February 2006 | |
| HIGHLAND reached the semi-finals of the BT Bowl for the first time on Saturday after a 24-6 triumph against Marr at Canal Park. Fresh from having clinched promotion to National Division Two last weekend, the Green-and-Reds were full of confidence going into this encounter against a club who ply their trade two leagues below Brian Irvine's side. The gulf in class was certainly evident in a first half Highland dominated, although it took the home side 15 minutes before scoring the game's opening try. After some good work by Highland's back division, Ewan Ferguson slipped through a hole in the middle of the Marr midfield to score near the posts before kicking the conversion to put Irvine's men 7-3 in front. The visitors briefly reduced the deficit to 7-6 but that was to be their last points of the day with the Green-and-Reds taking control through two tries from left-winger Kieran Watson. Eleven points in front at the interval, Highland continued to apply the pressure in the second half and Marr's chances of a comeback were dealt a severe blow when they lost a forward to the sin bin for retaliation. For many teams this would have viewed as a setback, but the Troonbased side made life difficult for their opponents by spending large periods of time camped in Highland's half of the field. The home side, however, are made of sterner stuff these days than in previous seasons and it wasn't long before signs of tiredness started to creep into the visitors' play. Once again Highland seized the initiative and Ferguson made another trademark burst through the middle to put the game beyond Marr and round off a fine 24-6 triumph for the Green-and-Reds. Highland have never gone as far as the semi-finals of any tournament and this is now uncharted territory for a club who still remain unbeaten in 2006. |
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