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| YELLOWS RETURN TO ACTION AGAINST ORKNEY by Iain Grant |
| Fri 6th Feb 2009 |
Caithness 2nds 27 Orkney 2nds 19
Caithness Seconds made a welcome return to action on Saturday with the first of a scheduled series of four clashes versus the auld enemy from across the firth.
Team-raising and organisational problems had kept the Yellows in cold storage for two seasons.
They roused themselves in some style from their enforced hibernation with a stirring five-tries-to-three victory at Millbank.
Coach Donald MacIntosh, the club’s most-capped player, was impressed with how the 23-strong squad – many of whom were playing their first match for several years – gelled together.
A fresh easterly wind, which had put a question-mark over Orkney’s ferry trip, made passing difficult and the line-outs something of a lottery.
The Yellow's scrum creaked in the first half but the home pack quickly established the upper hand in the loose exchanges.
Prop Colin Smith, lock Dave Lewis Saunders and number eight Adrian Campbell were prominent with some yard-guzzling carries while will-o-the-wisp scrum-half Gordie Macleod gave a man-of-the match display with his sniping breaks and gutsy cover tackling.
Caithness led the first quarter thanks to tries from Campbell and Macleod, which both stemmed from close-in scrums after concerted spells of pressure.
A good break from flanker Michael Duffy created the opportunity for skipper Brian More to plunge over for a third try, converted by James Mill.
The home side faded badly in the closing 10 minutes of the half and Orkney took advantage with an unconverted penalty try.
Only a marvellous lung-busting recovery tackle from Macleod prevented the islanders eating further into the deficit.
The final play before the interval ended with a try at the other end with John Miller and Lewis Saunders the vital links for Campbell’s second touchdown.
Playing against the elements, the Yellows were on the back foot for the opening exchanges before forging forward in front with a long-range try finished off by winger Jamie MacDonald.
That proved to be a rare foray as Orkney dominated the rest of the game which was played almost entirely in the Yellows half.
Scrum-half Fraser Allan exploited a gap to sprint clear for a try, he converted to narrow the gap to 27-12.
When fly-half Glen Maclellan finished off another move for a converted try with eight minutes to go, the alarm bells were sounding in the home camp. But the Yellows’ defence was not breached again as they held out for victory.
A useful pipe-opener for the Seconds for whom Gordie’s father Norman Mcleod deserves a mention for his late run-out which was his first action since he was 18.
Tomorrow, the Yellows have a fixture versus Ross Seconds in Invergordon.
Caithness squad – C. Smith, B. More (cpt), J. Munro, J. Miller, D. Nicolson, D. Lewis Saunders, A. Campbell, M. Duffy, J. Mill, Gordie MacLeod, J. MacDonald, G. Ross, S. Foubister, Y.Coghill, Graham MacLeod, S. Dunnett, C. Macleod, J. Cassidy, N. Kelly, M. Nicolson, D. Murray, N. Macleod and K. Foubister.
Ref – Mr S. Hamilton
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