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| KILMARNOCK 38 - CAITHNESS 0 by Iain Grant |
| Fri 12th Sep 2008 |
Caithness prepare to cross swords with Highland tomorrow on the back of a deflating trip to Ayrshire.
The six try-to-nil reverse to Kilmarnock has killed the buzz engendered by the Greens’ opening day victory at Millbank.
Coach Jim MacMillan is hoping the extra spice of a Highland derby match will lift his troops to add to the points won at home which will be crucial in their bid to preserve their Scottish Hydro-Electric National League Division 2 status.
The hosts, who celebrate their 140th anniversary this year, have ambitious £2.5 million plans to redevelop their Bellsland ground in a proposed tie-up with a supermarket.
On Saturday, Killie’s hard-working, attritional front five were key to laying the platform for what turned out to be a stress-free victory.
They bullied their counterparts at the setpiece, particularly the scrum where the Green eight were regularly in reverse gear.
Caithness were seldom in the opposition 22 with their attacking threat restricted to a couple of decent forays by Evan Sutherland and Graham Fryer.
The cards were stacked in Killie’s favour with even the elements conspiring against the Greens.
The hosts chose to line up with a blustery wind at their backs – an option which paid off handsomely as half-time coincided with the conditions abating to a light breeze.
Caithness, who travelled with just two replacements, also had injury problems.
Prop Donald Buchanan was handicapped throughout by a back strain while centre James Sinclair was forced to make a premature exit 10 minutes from the interval.
That resulted in veteran Dougie Wright coming on to play fly-half and Gary Mackay moving into the midfield.
Killie capitalised on their stranglehold on possession and territory to run in three tries in each half, four of which were converted.
Their setpiece domination led to two touchdowns for their abrasive number eight who went over both times from pick-up from the base of scrums.
The match provided a torrid debut for 17-year-old hooker Nathan Kelly who was unable to strike for his side’s first three put-ins at the scrum because of the pressure applied by the opposition.
Greens coach Jim MacMillan had no excuses to offer after watching his side take a pummelling.
“We were totally outplayed up in the forwards, especially in the front five,” he lamented.
“They bossed us up front while our one-on-one tackling throughout the game was atrocious.
“We were never really at the races.”
MacMillan added: “We got very little clean ball all day.
“The scrum was retreating the whole day and the line-out was pretty messy while they were very good at the breakdown.
“Their style of play is pretty one-dimensional – they would pick and go three times before spinning it.
“That’s not difficult to defend against but we had a team with units that haven’t trained or played together before, and it showed.”
Sinclair, even if fit, would be unavailable tomorrow as he has left for another stint offshore.
There is good news with the return of flanker Stevie Campbell while versatile back and place-kicker Blair McIntosh should be fit after missing the Kilmarnock game through injury.
Front row options are again stretched though Sinclair Dunnett should come back into the squad while full-back James Paterson is also set to return.
Highland, who have lost their two opening matches, will be desperate to extend their winning sequence versus the Greens to three in the match which has a 3 p.m. kick-off
Caithness – K. Gove, K. Foubister, J. Sinclair, K. Hamilton, G. Macleod, G. Mackay, G. Fryer, J. Foubister, N. Kelly, D. Buchanan, E. Boyd (cpt), H. Coghill, G. Anderson, E. Sutherland, D. Gordon.
Replacements -- (both used) – D. Wright and S. Foubister.
*Highland and Newton Stewart are the only sides still to register a point in NLD 2.
Both went down at home on Saturday to newly promoted sides, Highland losing 40-3 to Whitecraigs and NS going down 18-7 to Hawick YM.
Forrester scored a 29-14 home win over Stewartry while Greenock Wanderers also earned a bonus point for their 28-16 eclipse of Glasgow Accies.
The closest tussle saw Linlithgow edge a 13-11 win away to Hillfoots.
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| Hawick YM |
2 |
10 |
| Kilmarnock |
2 |
9 |
| Waysiders Drumpellier |
2 |
9 |
| Glasgow Accies |
2 |
7 |
| Berwick |
2 |
6 |
| Annan |
2 |
5 |
| Highland |
2 |
5 |
| Aberdeenshire |
2 |
4 |
| Stewartry |
2 |
4 |
| Caithness |
2 |
3 |
| Newton Stewart |
2 |
1 |
| Alan Glens |
2 |
0 |
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| 1st XV Season (2010/11) |
| Caithness 25 - 27 Kilmarnock |
| 4th Sep 10 - KO: 15:00 |
| Venue: Millbank |
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| 1st XV Season (2010/11) |
| Stewartry vs Caithness |
| 11th Sep 10 - KO: 15:00 |
| Venue: Greenlaw |
| :: More Fixtures |
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