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| CAITHNESS 40 - TRINITY ACCIES 0 by Iain Grant |
| Wed 29th Mar 2006 |
This was a variation on the hoary old theme of a game of two halves.
The Greens’ last home fixture in BT National Division 3 turned into a game of two pitches.
This was necessitated after 24 hours of incessant rain on top of a surface already struggling to absorb melting snow turned Millbank into a swamp.
It was not so much a case of lying water as the ground taking on the appearance of a well-established paddy field.
As a result, the game was switched at half-time from the main pitch to the top one.
Trinity were advised of the worsening conditions in advance but were happy to travel and, once up, opted to play rather than have to make a repeat trip.
It was the Edinburgh side’s last outing in a league campaign in which it has failed to arrest its recent slide down the rankings.
The Greens duly racked up the bonus point victory which keeps them firmly on track to finish in second spot.
Given the horrendous conditions, it was a more than decent showing from the home side who showed a commendable eagerness to sling the ball wide when the opportunity presented.
It was a step up from their ponderous display the previous week versus Newton Stewart, with the added pace and industry of their rejigged back row a telling factor.
An early long-range midfield break from Norman Foubister had the visitors on the back foot with a concerted spell of pressure climaxing with a score.
The breakthrough appeared to have come when a close-in chip by fly-half Michael Henderson eluded the grasp of a back-tracking defender and was touched down by left winger Jamie Begg.
Ref Alan MacLean disallowed the effort, somewhat bafflingly pulling play back for a penalty to Caithness.
The breakthrough was not long delayed with Trinity desperately defending the line in the face of a sustained onslaught.
Foubister was held up on the line but the next phase saw Hamish Boyd crashing over for a fifth minute try, which Henderson converted.
Trinity impressed with some resolute defence but they were struggling to win any meaningful possession.
Ewen Boyd rose to steal one of their first line-outs while the visiting scrum looked anything but secure.
The second Green try after 13 minutes came after Trinity’s back three got in a tangle as they sought to deal with a straightforward kick through.
After nobody claimed the ball on the deck, home number eight George Sutherland nipped in to gather and cross for a converted try.
Perhaps the most appropriate verb would be plunge as players were having to contend with several inches of standing water in most parts of the pitch.
Regularly, the respective scrum-halves were finding the ball they were clearing from rucks was floating towards them.
After a shapeless spell in the game, Caithness scored two cracking try in four minutes to secure the bonus point.
After several go-forward phases, the ball was shipped left to right with Duncan Sangster’s long pass being taken on the hoof by James ‘Pop’ Sinclair who outflanked opposing winger Jamie Lindsay to score in the corner.
That was rivalled by the fourth touchdown eight minutes from the interval when Sutherland’s inside pass released Stevie Campbell on a trademark, diagonal run to the line from just outside the 22.
The switch in pitches coincided with a brief upturn in Trinity’s fortunes as they tasted life in opposition territory.
Their mobile prop David Stroud impressed with several flashy runs as the Greens defence was seriously tested for the first time.
The visitors however ran out of steam and after 63 minutes were again gathering under the posts to reflect on a morale-shattering reverse.
The driving maul is a technique which the Greens have worked hard on this season and on Saturday its potency was fully exposed.
Taking possession just outside the Trinity 22, their pack remorselessly manoeuvred the ball towards the line as opponents failed to check the momentum.
It was no surprise to see the drive go all the way but it was a shock to see the diminutive frame of Duncan Sangster emerge from the guddle of bodies, gleefully holding the ball.
His wall-to-wall smile showed how much the centre enjoyed snatching the glory away from one of the much more deserving leviathans who had done all the spadework.
Two minutes later, in the last action of the match, a sparky move saw Ewen Boyd and Sinclair Dunnet display quick hands to release James Paterson wide out right.
The teenage winger showed a rapid turn of pace as zoot in from 40 yards for his debut try.
Henderson bagged his fifth conversion to complete the scoring.
Given the dreadful conditions, the sides agreed that Mr MacLean could call a premature halt into the second half if the result of the game appeared settled.
It proved a merciful decision as several visiting players were looking distinctly drookit and
Caithness - H. Boyd, James ‘Pop’ Sinclair, N. Foubister, D. Sangster, J. Begg, M. Henderson, G. Fryer, J. MacMillan, D. Pottinger, D. Budge, E. Boyd, A. Morris (cpt), J ‘Pigeon’ Sinclair, G. Sutherland, S. Campbell. Replacements (all used) - S. Dunnet, L. MacNicol and J. Paterson.
Trinity Accies - D. Watson, J. Spencer, R. Ritchie, A. Bruce, J. Lindsay, N. Morrison, R. Watson, D. Stroud, V. Cooksley, O. Sappramadu, R. Lovatt, J. Delaney, G. Matuszak, D. Barnes, P. Gilhooley. Replacements (used) B. Delaney and S. Murray.
Ref - Mr A. MacLean, Fearn.
Highland kept in the hunt for second with a 43-5 home win over Glenrothes.
Champions Falkirk meanwhile slumped to only their second league loss of the season, losing 33-28 at Helensburgh.
That clinched fourth place for the Loch Lomondside men, ahead of Lismore who crashed 30-19 away to Hawick YM.
Whitecraigs moved off the bottom with a gutsy 22-20 win at Newton Stewart.
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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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