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| GREENS SNATCH WIN WITH LATE PENALTY by Iain Grant |
| Fri 27th Mar 2009 |
Highkland 18 - 20 Caithness
A late penalty snatched victory for Caithness in an injury-ravaged match at Canal Park on Saturday.
It sealed a notable Scottish Hydro Electric National League Division 2 double for the Greens over their north rivals and fuelled their hopes of a top half finish.
It also extended to three their winning run away from home – a dramatic change in fortunes after their opening seven contests on the hoof produced just one victory.
A run of game-ending injuries stretched the resources of both sides on Saturday, forcing them into reshuffles which disrupted their respective game-plans.
In the visitors’ case, the losses of winger Brett Morris and centre James Paterson from an already stretched back division caused major problems.
For a spell in the second half, their back three comprised utility forward Hamish Coghill, under-18 recruit Scott Foubister and back row recent returnee Gavin Swanson.
Highland crucially failed to exploit the potentially exposed wide channels during this spell though their cause was also hampered by casualties.
Left winger Rory Cross broke a collar-bone delivering the scoring pass for the opening try. He was followed to hospital soon after by lock forward Andrew Findlater, with an eye injury, and shortly after half-time by scrum half Gareth High, whose chin gash required stitches.
The injury list grew when Caithness stand-off Blair McIntosh was found to have been played the 80 minutes with a cracked bone in an ankle apparently sustained during the warm-up.
The Greens had enjoyed a promising start and it was against the run of play that Cross broke and released Findlater on a clear run to the line.
Craig Irvine missed the conversion but was later on target with a penalty.
Caithness capitalised on a purple patch midway through the half when a series of forward drives ended with skipper Ewan Boyd crossing. Mackay converted and added a penalty to put his side 10-8 ahead.
In the last action before the break, Caithness ran back a miscued touch find and the pacy Paterson oustripped the cover to touch down under the posts. Mackay converted to give his side a nine point lead at the turnaround.
Highland soon set about eating into the deficit and a converted try by lock Peter Weir gave them early encouragement.
Winger Richard Sim was then sent clear for a try which Irvine also improved to put his side 18-17 in front with quarter-of-an-hour left.
At this stage, the Greens redeployed the troops again with Coghill paying the price for his versatility with a shift back into the pack and Stevie Campbell – part of a match-winning back row -- moving out to shore up the midfield.
Caithness produced a late surge without getting in striking distance of the try-line.
The key moment in the match came with three minutes left when home prop Jamie Strachan went on an ill-conceived foray from his own 22.
Isolated from his team-mates after being scragged, his failure to release the ball was penalised. That allowed Mackay to step up to dispatch a kick which just had the legs and no more to cross the bar.
The win delighted Caithness coach Jim MacMillan who said his squad had dug deep to achieve the success. He was particularly pleased with the trio who came off the bench.
The coach said forwards Brian Moar, Colin Smith and Michael Duffy all made a notable impact in their recent return to the game after all had largely given up since their Wick High schooldays.
Tomorrow, Caithness make their last trip of what has been a gruelling campaign to play Hawick YM.
The Borders outfit, who won 27-11 in Thurso in October, are still in the race for second place.
McIntosh, Paterson and Morris add to the Caithness casualty list though it is hoped flanker Grant Anderson will have recovered from a finger injury to make the journey. James Sinclair and Stuart Grant should also add to the back division, in which Campbell could well figure from the start.
Caithness v Highland -- G. Mackay, S. Foubister, J. Paterson, D. Gordon, B. Morris, B. McIntosh, K. Hamilton, D. Buchanan, H. Coghill, J. Foubister, E. Boyd (cpt), L. MacNicol, G. Swanson, E. Sutherland, S. Campbell. Replacements (used) – B. More, C. Smith and M. Duffy.
* With Whitecraigs already confirmed as champions, Linlithgow bolstered their chances of going up with them following their 59-12 win away to Forrester.
Hawick YM’s 29-13 home win over Greenock Wanderers kept them five points behind in third. Forrester’s defeat leaves the Edinburgh side short odds favourite to drop to NLD3 along with Hillfoots.
Caithness Seconds are due play Orkney Seconds at Millbank tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Caithness under-16s meanwhile have a Caledonian League match versus Aberdeen Grammar on Sunday at 11 a.m.
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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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