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| STEWARTRY 10 - CAITHNESS 8 by Iain Grant |
| Thu 21st Dec 2006 |
The concession of two late tries thwarted the Greens’ bid to register a rare away victory in National League Division 2.
Their Castle Douglas hosts were under the cosh for most of the contest but defended gallantly and were able to exploit their opponents’ all-too-familiar fade-out in the closing minutes.
Stewartry had not previously won since the opening day of the season though they proved their mettle in their 15-8 defeat in Thurso in mid-September.
Caithness led through an early penalty kicked by Blair McIntosh.
They were forced into a reshuffle midway through the first half when the curse which has blighted their back division this season struck again.
Centre Duncan Sangster’s injury led to his brother Andrew being re-deployed from number eight to accommodate the arrival of James Hamilton from the bench.
The switch did not change the pattern of Caithness domination, with the home side mustering all their resources on containment.
One Caithness attack extended to 12 phases but, crucially, failed to produce a score.
They had to wait until early in the second half for what proved their only try when flanker Evan Sutherland forced his way over from the last of a series of forward-inspired, close-range surges.
McIntosh failed to land the extras but Caithness looked firmly on track to notch their second victory of their campaign on the road.
That was snatched away when they flagged in the last 10 minutes to allow the home troops to cap a gutsy surge with two unconverted tries.
The first stemmed from a counter-attack when several missed tackles contributed to what was a poor try from a defensive point of view.
Five minutes from time, a Stewartry attack from a line-out seemed to have been snuffed out by a thumping tackle from McIntosh.
But lack of Caithness support at the breakdown allowed the home side to recycle possession before switching play across the width of the park.
With the visitors’ defence at sixes and seven, Stewartry’s left winger was set free to zoot in for the winning score.
The manner of the reverse left Caithness coach Colin Sangster seething on a number of fronts.
"This was a game we should never have lost," he said.
"We were well on top without playing hugely well.
"We must have had 70% of the ball and 70% of the territory."
Sangster said a lack of direction in the backs is continuing to hamstring his side.
He also believes his players are over-committing at the contact point, meaning their ability to make inroads with the possession won is blunted.
Another obvious shortcoming is the side’s worrying tendency to tie up in the latter stages of games.
"Fitness is an issue," admits Sangster.
"In the last 10 minutes on Saturday, the guys were dead on their feet.
"These are occasions when we really need a strong bench, which we have struggled to get."
The coach said: "We had a good heart-to-heart at training on Tuesday when a few home truths were spelled out."
Sangster also took a broadside at NLD2 referees which he said too often turn a blind eye to blatant spoiling tactics at the breakdown.
As part of an SRU directive, players are warned before games that no rucking of players will be permitted.
Said Sangster: "They say any boots on bodies will be immediately penalised.
"That is fair enough but too often we see them allowing the first person who arrives at the breakdown to lie over the top of the ball.
"It’s killing the game - it’s something that really sickens me"
Sangster believes that the offence should be dealt with by an initial caution and then by a sin-binning.
He complains: "I know coaches are telling their guys to do it.
"It’s been happening to us all season."
Caithness were earlier this week told they had to play a re-arranged home fixture versus Garnock tomorrow.
But the game was scrubbed after the Ayrshire side made clear they could not get a squad to travel at such short notice two days before Christmas.
Sangster was more than sympathetic and said that his club would have had similar problems had they been the travelling side.
The Sinclair Cadzow Memorial match goes ahead at Millbank on Boxing Day.
It pits the Greens against a Students / Exiles combine for a trophy inaugurated in memory of Sinclair, who played for Thurso High, Caithness and Edinburgh University. Kick-off is at 12.30 p.m.
Caithness - B. McIntosh, J. Paterson, N. Foubister, D. Sangster, R. Mackay, G. Fryer, K. Hamilton, J. Foubister (cpt), S. Campbell, S. Dunnett, A. Morris, E. Boyd, G. Sutherland, A. Sangster, E. Sutherland. Replacements - G. Anderson, D. Lewis-Saunders and J. Hamilton (all used).
Highland also lost on Saturday - going down 16-6 away to the strong-going Annan.
Leaders Falkirk had no problems beating Allan Glen’s 31-5 while Garnock’s 15-7 away victory in Linlithgow allowed them to claim third spot, ahead of the West Lothian outfit.
Glasgow Accies moved up to the fringe of the promotion race with a thumping 49-0 win over bottom side Duns.
The Kilmarnock / Howe of Fife match was cancelled.
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| 1st XV Season (2010/11) |
| Caithness 25 - 27 Kilmarnock |
| 4th Sep 10 - KO: 15:00 |
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| 1st XV Season (2010/11) |
| Stewartry vs Caithness |
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