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| CAITHNESS 15 - EXILES 5 by Iain Grant |
| Tue 27th Dec 2005 |
 Caithness retained the Sinclair Cadzow Memorial Trophy after defeating an Exiles / Students XV in gluepot conditions at Millbank.
The Boxing Day match was the eleventh in the series and it could hardly have been more different from the inaugural one.
The latter saw Caithness and Edinburgh University serve up a try fest on
a firm pitch on a glorious Saturday in April 1996.
Monday was mild but the game was marred as a spectacle by a sodden surface which militated against expansive rugby.
Both sides battled manfully throughout and produced some exciting passages.
But for long spells, it was a war of attrition in the trenches with ref Kenneth Pottinger having a tough job sorting out who was doing what in the rucks and mauls as all the jerseys took on a dark brown hue.
Caithness had a sizeable list of absentees through injuries and players rested from a tough league schedule.
They took the opportunity to hand debuts to wingers James Paterson and Philip Green while George Sutherland made his first start after his long injury lay-off.
Their opponents, ably marshalled by Halkirk’s Andy Knight, featured four Ruddick brothers - playing together for the first time in senior rugby.
Two Sangster brothers - Duncan and Donald - were in opposite camps while for the first time in many years a Mill was not involved.
Green was involved early on when he showed a good turn of pace after being set free down the left.
Boroughmuir’s Steve Ruddick was then prominent in triggering an Exiles’
attack which fizzled out.
Both sides struggled for continuity as the pitch deteriorated and, with handling a risky activity, the boot upfield became a favoured tactic.
After 19 minutes, George Sutherland ignited a promising raid which was carried on by Hamish Boyd until he was forced into touch 10 metres from the line.
The Greens pinched the line-out and Hamish Boyd burst through a couple of weak tackles to score.
Michael Henderson converted
The Exiles belied their scratch billing in competing well in the setpiece and their defence was generally solid.
They pressed hard to get on the scoreboard and only a fine head-on tackle from James ‘Pop’ Sinclair stopped Steve Ruddick finishing off a diagonal break.
The Exiles sustained their momentum after the break and on 43 minutes got their reward as they took play deep into enemy territority.
A messy line-out - not the first of the afternoon - saw the ball end on the deck.
The alert Knight scooped up and probed down the undefended blind side to go over for an unconverted try.
Most of the second period was a shapeless affair with spectators having to endure long periods when nothing seemed to happen.
A break in the gloom came on 51 minutes when quick hands from Duncan Sangster and Paterson led to George Sutherland rampaging clear only to be collared just inside the Exiles 22.
Four minutes later, the Greens’ option to kick a penalty was unpopular with some in the crowd.
In what was always going to be a close, low-scoring contest, it was however a good decision and Hamish Boyd duly spliced the posts.
The match was generally well-tempered but the ground conditions ensured there were bound to be flashpoints and there was one outbreak of mass fisticuffs.
Never less than competitive, the match entered the last 15 minutes with the Exiles on the front foot and sensing they could claw their way to victory.
Knight was calling the shots with the Boroughmuir man almost putting club colleague Gus Martyn over with a reverse pass from a scrum five.
The Greens survived and were themselves pressing for a try when a stray pass saw Steve Ruddick hack the ball up field.
He would have been clear but for a fly tug on Duncan Sangster’s jersey
as the pair gave chase.
The offence was spotted by Mr Pottinger who did his best throughout to keep the game moving.
The crucial score came six minutes from the end when strong pressure on the Exiles’ line resulted in a second penalty opportunity for Hamish Boyd.
He skewed this attempt but in the aftermath, Sinclair Swanson had his attempted clearance kick charged down and George Sutherland was up quickly to gather and dot the ball down in the corner.
Hamish Boyd missed the conversion.
A gallant final surge from the Exiles saw Martin break out from his 22.
His run down the touchline was ended by a cover tackle from Greens’ stand-in skipper Graham Fryer.
Martin offloaded and was on hand to take the return pass and gallop over
the line only to somehow lose hold of the ball.
James O’Brien, the Leeds University student, looked set to go over but was adjudged to have put a foot in touch as he ran back a kick.
All-in-all not a game that will live long in the memory but the teams deserve credit for the wholehearted effort they showed on a foul day.
For Caithness, Evan Sutherland and George Sutherland were lively presences throughout while Fryer and James ‘Pop’ Sinclair were the best of the backs.
Paul and Steve Ruddick stood out for the Exiles, as did Knight.
Michael Henderson added to the Greens’ lengthening injury list when he had to make a premature departure off with a shoulder knock.
Ewen Boyd also had to come off with nasty a cut to his cheek.
Greens coach Colin Sangster will be hoping a fortnight’s rest will help at least some of the casualties recover in time for the next National League Division 3 league match at home to Helensburgh.
Caithness - James ‘Pop’ Sinclair, J. Paterson, H. Boyd, Duncan Sangster, P. Green, M. Henderson, G. Fryer (cpt), J. MacMillan, James ‘Pigeon’ Sinclair, D. Buchanan, R. Gray, E. Boyd, L. MacNicol, E. Sutherland, G. Sutherland. Replacement - R. MacKintosh.
Exiles - J. Malcolm, D. Gunn, S. Swanson, S. Ruddick, M. Ruddick, J, O’Brien, A. Knight (cpt), H. Pottinger, D. MacIvor, J. Miller, D. McIntosh, P. Ruddick, D. Sangster, J. Hamilton, J. Ruddick. Replacements (all
used): D. Nicolson, A. Martyn and J. Murphy.
Ref - Mr K. Pottinger.
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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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