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| CAITHNESS 10 - GLSGOW ACCIES 8 by Iain Grant |
| Mon 24th Sep 2007 |
The Greens weathered a concerted, late push by the city side to record a waver-thin victory in the Scottish Hydro Electric National League Division 2.
An Accies penalty at the death awarded after the visitors had pounded the try-line fell just short, triggering an outpouring of relief as much as celebration in the home camp.
Saturday’s match held in an unrelenting downpour and wind swirling down Wick’s Lower Bignold Park made it as much a trial of character and resilience as a test of skill. The pitch, with its steep gradient and patchy surface, must also be one of the worst in Scotland’s National Leagues.
Caithness coach Jim MacMillan was happy with the outcome while realistic about the need to tighten up areas of his side’s play. He knows the Greens’ home record will be key to achieving their over-riding objective of staying in the division.
Winning the majority of matches on their own turf while picking up whatever they can on the hoof will be the modus operandi.
The coach had targeted tomorrow’s match in Glasgow versus Allan Glen’s as one of the best prospects of harvesting points from their demanding away schedule.
But a run of fresh injuries has weakened the travelling squad and reined in expectations.
The Greens’ preparations for last Saturday’s match were hit by two late call-offs.
William Mill’s long-awaited first appearance of the season was stymied when he damaged a knee while working on the family farm on Friday evening. Ranald Pottinger then went over an ankle in the warm-up.
The latter mishap resulted in Donald Buchanan making his first start of the season while James ‘Pop’ Sinclair, who had come along to watch the game, was prevailed on to get stripped for bench duty. Some much-needed experience was added with the return of Dougie Wright.
His inclusion at full-back marked his first start for three-and-a-half years and he was to play a major role in marshalling the largely greenhorn back division.
The Greens were against the slope and in the face of the foul weather in the first period.
While they were seldom out of their own half, they defended reasonably comfortably and reached the interval just 5-0 behind. The unconverted try was conceded on 18 minutes when a good spell of continuity afforded the space for Pete Meiklem to cross out wide.
Accies failed to press home their advantage in territory and possession through a mix of over-eagerness and sloppiness in their attack and the grittiness and cohesion of the opposition defence.
After the turnaround, Caithness set about overhauling the slender five point deficit.
A promising attack, spearheaded by Campbell, foundered for want of support as Accies’ line came under regular threat.
The pressure bore fruit just over 10 minutes into the second half when a series of surges ended with skipper Ewen Boyd surging over.
Caithness however fell behind shortly afterwards when they conceded a penalty in their 22 which Gareth Williams converted.
The Greens went ahead for the first time with 10 minutes left when they probed down the bottom right-hand corner to allow lock Andy Morris a free run to the line.
The home support looked forward to their favourites taking charge and closing out the game.
But instead the Greens had to withstand a furious late rally by Accies. In the closing minutes, they pounded the line with Jamie Doig twice stopped inches short.
The pressure forced a last minute penalty to win the game for the city men.
Williams’ kick finished just short, Blair McIntosh touched the ball down and the referee blew the final whistle after the subsequent drop-out went out on the full.
The final action left Accies’ coach Simon Wintle incensed as he believed McIntosh had carried the ball over the line and that his side should have had the put-in from a scrum five.
He and his troops at least had the consolation of a losing bonus point as they set out on their six-and-a-half hour return coach trip.
For Greens’ coach MacMillan, the nerve-racking finale would have been avoided had his side translated their try-scoring chances.
MacMillan was again forced into action again when he had to replace Buchanan, who suffered a rib injury at a scrum midway through the second half.
The coach said: “We had the bulk of the play in the second half when we passed up four or five good opportunities.
“Even in the first half, we looked quite comfortable under the pressure we faced.
“At half-time, I didn’t think we had too much to worry about and at 10-8, I thought that we could go on and get another couple of tries but it wasn’t to be.”
He blamed poor decision-making for his side’s failure not to win by a more decisive margin.
Of Saturday’s side, Buchanan (ribs), Ranald Pottinger (ankle), David Pottinger (neck) and James ‘Pigeon’ Sinclair (knee) are all sidelined.
Scrum-half Kris Hamilton is however back after training with the Scottish under-18 squad. Utility back Graham Fryer also returns.
The trip to Glasgow will be the Greens’ first in the club’s newly acquired minibus.
Caithness: D. Wright, James ‘Pigeon’ Sinclair, D. Pottinger, B. McIntosh, R. McIntosh, G. Mackay, S. Campbell, L. MacNicol, S. Dunnett, D. Buchanan, E. Boyd (cpt.), A. Morris, S. Duval, E. Sutherland, G. Anderson. Replacements – (all used) J. MacMillan, G. MacLeod and James ‘Pop’ Sinclair.
Glasgow Accies: C. Wright, M. Hermes, I. Williamson, J. Doig, S. Hazley, G. Williams, A. Wilson, S. Cadwallader, S. Thorburn, P. Meiklem, B.Thompson, J. Dillon, D. McLaughlin, S. Begley, P. Allen. Replacements (all used) – G. Simpson, Z. Al-Kharaji and A. Pogrel.
The league’s top tie saw Forrester retain their 100% record with a 31-30 home victory over Dumfries.
The only other side with three victories out of three are Howe of Fife who wiped Newton Stewart 50-0.
The value of bonus points can be gleaned by the record of Linlithgow whose 65-7 home win over Stewartry was their first of the season.
Despite both Caithness and Grangemouth having each won two games, the bonuses picked up by the West Lothian side in their two defeats means they are on the same eight point mark. Grangemouth on Saturday, scraped home 8-3 versus Kilmarnock while Allan Glens remain winless after a 45-3 reverse away to Highland.
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| 1st XV Season (2009/10) |
| Kilmarnock 81 - 5 Caithness |
| 17th Apr 10 - KO: 12:00 |
| Venue: Bellsland |
| :: Match Report |
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| 1st XV Season (2010/11) |
| Caithness vs Kilmarnock |
| 4th Sep 10 - KO: 15:00 |
| Venue: Millbank |
| :: More Fixtures |
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