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| FALKIRK 38 - CAITHNESS 10 by Iain Grant |
| Wed 1st Mar 2006 |
The Greens on Saturday made a gallant but vain bid to prolong the BT National League Division 3 title contest.
Falkirk duly clinched their second successive championship though Caithness will again be moving up along with Sunnyside outfit.
The understrength visitors were to rue not making more of the opportunities they had to establish a first half lead when playing with the elements in their favour.
The teams finished the half tied at 10-10 but two forward-driven power plays within 10 minutes of the restart paved the way for what proved a sizeable victory for the home men.
The winning margin was harsh on Caithness who paid dearly for their inability to resist close-in forward charges.
Michael Henderson was restored at fly-half for the Greens but injuries robbed them of regulars Ewen Boyd, David Pottinger, Duncan Sangster and Richard Mackay.
The weather was dry and sunny for the noon kick-off with Caithness skipper Andy Morris winning the toss and opting to play with the strong, chill wind in his side’s favour.
A powerful start by the visitors unsettled their hosts who had largely breezed past opponents in racking up 13 wins since their reverse at Millbank on the first day of the season.
Caithness moved the ball wide at every opportunity and were rewarded midway through the first half when a back row move from a scrum ended with George Sutherland crossing.
Henderson converted.
Falkirk responded soon after when a forward rumble ended with skipper Kevin McKenzie, the former Scotland hooker, credited with the touchdown.
His brother Mark McKenzie failed to add the extras and Henderson went on to pot a penalty to put his side 10-5 up.
With the wind strengthening, the Greens really needed a bigger cushion to prepare to face the expected onslaught after the interval.
But after they were unable to convert several promising attacks, Falkirk drew level just before the turnaround with an unconverted try for second row Dave MacMillan.
The stage was set for Mark McKenzie to use his prodigious boot to set up platforms for his pack to demonstrate their potency in finishing off driving mauls.
It proved their trump card as they scored two unanswered tries within 10 minutes of the interval.
Takes and drives from five metre line-outs had the Caithness pack in terminal reverse gear.
Caithness featured in a sparky spell of play after the second restart when only last-ditch tackles prevented tries.
The game was up for the visitors when Falkirk scored a fifth try midway through the half.
As with the last touchdown, in the final minute, it stemmed from close-quarters forward thrusts.
Mark McKenzie converted all four to make the final score 38-10.
Morris was disappointed with the scoreline which he claimed did not tell the story of the game.
He said: "We put a lot of pressure on them in the first half when we perhaps weren’t clinical enough on a couple of occasions.
"We needed another couple of scores before half-time to set us up.
"I chose to play with the wind, hoping it would drop, but it actually picked up and that obviously made it hard for us after the break."
The skipper was full of praise for the effort put in by his men and had a special word for second row partner Ryan McIntosh and teenage winger James Paterson.
Falkirk president Alex McQuade was gracious in victory.
He said: "All credit to Caithness who made a real game of it and never gave up.
"Games with them over the past couple of seasons have also been very hard and well contested and we’re looking forward to meeting them in Division 2 next season."
The Greens’ sights are now in securing second spot in ND3 ahead of rivals Highland.
They could take a big step tomorrow when they play their last away match, at Lismore.
Jamie Begg is unlikely to feature after aggravating a knee injury on Saturday but Saturday’s absentees should be fit to make the trip.
Highland, who play at Falkirk tomorrow, did not have a game on Saturday.
Falkirk - C. Harris, A. Wells, R. Denholm. B. Cairns, M. Kilbank, M. McKenzie, M. George, M. Dodd, K. McKenzie (cpt) , R. Greenaway, D. MacMillan, P. Curry, D. Edge, C. MacAskill, J. Brough. Replacements (all used) - T. Johnstone, J. Malone and K. Harper.
Caithness - J. Begg, J. Paterson, N. Foubister, H. Boyd, James ‘Pop’ Sinclair, M. Henderson, G. Fryer, D. Buchanan, S. Campbell, J. MacMillan, A. Morris (cpt), R McIntosh, L. McNicol, E. Sutherland, G. Sutherland. Replacements (all used) - D. Budge, James ‘Pigeon’ Sinclair and B. Morris.
Of Saturday’s NLD3 fixtures, the closest contest was in Edinburgh where Hawick YM squeezed home 30-29 versus Trinity Accies.
Lismore meanwhile prevailed 22-10 against Newton Stewart.
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| Hawick YM |
2 |
10 |
| Kilmarnock |
2 |
9 |
| Waysiders Drumpellier |
2 |
9 |
| Glasgow Accies |
2 |
7 |
| Berwick |
2 |
6 |
| Annan |
2 |
5 |
| Highland |
2 |
5 |
| Aberdeenshire |
2 |
4 |
| Stewartry |
2 |
4 |
| Caithness |
2 |
3 |
| Newton Stewart |
2 |
1 |
| Alan Glens |
2 |
0 |
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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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