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| GREENS SUFFER FROM AWAY-TEAM CRISIS by Iain Grant |
| Fri 7th Nov 2008 |
Whitecraigs 74 - 16 Caithness
The by-now familiar problems the Greens have in mustering a side, never mind a squad, for away matches reached crisis proportions on Saturday.
The 16 on duty at the Newton Mearns' home of leaders Whitecraigs included four players variously based in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Coach Jim MacMillan, who thought his playing days were behind him, was also pressed into service as an emergency second-half replacement.
There were new partnerships at half-back and the centre while the newcomers had to quickly get up to speed with the team codes and moves.
It was hardly ideal preparation to take on the favourites to win this year's Scottish Hydro Electric National League Division 2.
An early disabling injury suffered by their guest player, at inside centre, and hooker Hamish Coghill's second half red-carding did not lighten the gloom.
Whitecraigs' momentum has been fuelled by a thriving youth section and they are looking to repeat last year's NLD3 title success.
Caithness lived with their opponents in the opening 15 minutes, recovering from the loss of an early converted try to trail 12-9, thanks to three penalties from full-back Gary Mackay.
Whitecraigs, however, soon established a decided upper hand as they spread play on the wide park to bring in their more-than-useful strike runners from deep.
The scoreboard ticked over as Whitecraigs worked overlaps and exploited gaps on a regular basis.
The Greens gained a crumb of comfort with a cracking late try. It was instigated from within their own 22 with scrum-half Kris Hamilton's initial break being carried on deep into opposition territory.
A quickly recycled ball at a breakdown was spun right and centre Danny Gordon powered over for a try, which Mackay converted.
Earlier, Coghill, ignominiously, joined the handful of Caithness players to have been sent off after lashing out in retaliation at an opponent.
MacMillan's enforced run-out resulted in flanker Evan Sutherland joining the chorus line of Greens to have played centre this season.
A tough spell for Caithness continues tomorrow when they line up against Hawick YM without a handful of regulars, who are bound for the Scotland v New Zealand match at Murrayfield.
The absentees will particularly stretch the resources in the back division though MacMillan is hoping to recall Norman Foubister, William Mill, James Sinclair and Keith Foubister.
Sinclair Dunnett and Halde Pottinger are also set to return to the front row.
Hawick YM will be going all out for a win to sustain their promotion drive, which was kept on track on Saturday with a comfortable 24-0 win over Hillfoots.
Tomorrow's match at Millbank has a 2pm kick-off.
Caithness: G. Mackay, K. Gove, D. Gordon, J. Murphy, G. MacLeod, K. Hamilton, S. Grant, J. Foubister, H. Coghill, D. Buchanan, E. Boyd (cpt), J. Hamilton, G. Anderson, A. Sangster, E. Sutherland. Replacement used: J. MacMillan.
*Linlithgow stay second thanks to a scrappy 12-3 win at home over Kilmarnock. Highland's winning streak ended with a 26-15 reverse in Stewartry. Newton Stewart's 31-0 defeat at the home of Glasgow Accies leaves them looking for their first victory while Forrester remain in relegation trouble after being edged out 12-8 in Edinburgh by Greenock Wanderers.
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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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