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| HELENSBURGH 16 - CAITHNESS 7 by Iain Grant |
| Wed 28th Sep 2005 |
The Greens tasted defeat for the first time this season on Saturday when they were knocked off their top perch in BT National League Division 3.
They ran into highly committed opponents determined not to slip to a third successive defeat in what is a very competitive division.
The match was played on a fine autumn afternoon at the well-appointed Ardencaple venue in this leafy Loch Lomond-side resort.
The defeat was hard to swallow for Caithness who were left to reflect on the price of failing to convert incessant pressure in the middle third of the game into a match-winning position.
An encouraging start by the visitors was interrupted when Helensburgh almost struck with their first attack, a rogue bounce of the ball from a kick-through preventing the score.
Caithness then had full-back Richard Mackay to thank for a crunching last-ditch tackle on winger James Walsh.
A Dave McGrath penalty after 12 minutes was to be the last time the hosts strayed into opposition territory for the rest of the half.
Useful snipes by Greens centres Russell Mill and Duncan Sangster encouraged the visitors whose forwards were by now establishing a vice-like grip in the possession stakes.
Successive rumbles by John Foubister, George Sutherland and Andy Morris forced a 20th penalty near the posts.
Fly-half Blair McIntosh pushed his attempt at goal wide -- a mistake he was to repeat from similar position two minutes later.
From the drop-out restart, George Sutherland gathered and bullocked down the right touch-line.
After eluding two would-be tackles, he opted to lunge for the line instead of giving the inside pass to the unmarked Duncan Sangster.
The split second decision to go himself unravelled when Chris Black's tackle saw Sutherland's trailing leg brush the touch-line just before he touched down.
After 28 minutes, Black again proved Sutherland's nemesis when the flanker broke clear only to be sent sprawling in the shadow of the posts.
With the home side defending desperately, it seemed inconceivable their line would remain unbreached for much longer.
It didn't but unfortunately ref Dougie Taylor was unsighted when a driven five yard line-out ended with Sutherland grounding the ball over the line under a guddle of bodies.
Duncan Sangster was then held up a foot short as his side sought reward for their relentless pressure.
The try finally arrived on 34 minutes following a fine spell of continuity play begun by a piercing break from Jamie Sinclair.
Hooker Stevie Campbell took the final touch to crash in near the left touch flag.
Richard Mackay landed the difficult conversion to put his side 7-3 up.
Helensburgh's response was immediate.
A break from the strong-running centre Dave Riding sparked a raid which ended with a maul being held up over the Caithness line.
From the five-yard scrum, Alistair Cairns sent Black over for a try converted by McGrath.
Just before the interval, a series of pick-and-drives by the Green pack resulted in a penalty which was quickly taken by the livewire William Mill who almost borrowed his way over.
Caithness had the edge on the resumption but possession was all too often conceded by unforced errors or poor decision-making.
Both sides missed penalty attempts before McGrath was successful to put his side 13-7 up with an hour played.
Buoyed by the lead, Helensburgh went on finish the match the stronger as the Greens' effort fizzled out.
Eight minutes from time, Mackay again distinguished himself with an all-enveloping tackle to thwart Welsh going over.
Riding then looked certain to score with another angled run on the switch only to have a score disallowed for a foot in touch.
A brief final flurry by the visitors gave Sinclair space out wide but the move was cut short when he was bundled into touch on the Helensburgh 22.
The final action saw Helensburgh awarded a penalty in front of the posts which McGrath duly potted to stretch the lead to nine points.
That brought a final roar from the raucous touchline support, members of whom had bated and reviled Mr Taylor throughout the afternoon.
Helensburgh secretary Alan Cavana said afterwards: "We're, of course, delighted with the win.
"I was a very tight game and I think the crucial stage was when we managed to survive the second quarter.
"We withstood constant pressure during this spell but came away from it two points ahead."
The defeat and the subsequent viewing of the video of the match proved hard to stomach for Greens coach Colin Sangster.
He agreed with Mr Cavana's assessment of the turning point.
"Twenty-plus points went a begging for us in the 20 minute spell before half-time through simple decision-making, slack execution and missed penalties.
"If we had scored even 10 more points then, I'm certain they wouldn't have been able to come back. We would have buried them."
Mr Sangster said Helensburgh grew in confidence after weathering the pressure.
He added: "It gave them a sniff of winning the game and made life a bit difficult for us.
"A few of us also drifted out of the game in the last 20 minutes and the final blow came when they kicked a penalty just before the final whistle to deny us a losing bonus point."
The coach has a clutch of injury worries before tomorrow's trip to Glasgow to play Whitecraigs.
Sutherland's premature exit with knee ligament damage could sideline him for up to six weeks.
Foubister and Russell Mill are also doubtful with knee trouble while injries could also prevent Jamie Begg and James Mill rejoining the squad.
Helensburgh -- C. Black, E. Neadwell, D. Riding, A. Cairns, J. Welsh, D. McGrath, S. Walker, J. Miller, N. Campion, O. Melbourne, O. McInroy, J. Smythe, J. Gibson, A. Inglis (cpt), J. Musset. Replacements (used) -- C. Rettie and C. Wight.
Caithness -- R. Mackay, J. Sinclair, R. Mill, D. Sangster, G. Fryer, B. McIntosh, W. Mill, J. MacMillan, S. Campbell, J. Foubister, E. Boyd, A. Morris (cpt), E. Sutherland, A. Sangster, G. Sutherland. Replacements (all used) -- R. Gray, L. MacNicol and S. Borthwick.
Ref -- Mr D. Taylor, East Kilbride.
Falkirk and Highland took advantage of the Greens' reverse to move above them in the table.
Falkirk made it three wins on the trot with a 34-0 home victory over Lismore while Highland came from behind to beat Hawick YM 19-12 in Inverness.
Newton Stewart also moved up on the coat-tails of Caithness with a 23-0 success at Glenrothes while Trinity Accies pipped Whitecraigs 14-7.
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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 |
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| :: More Fixtures |
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