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| CAITHNESS 65 - GLASGOW ACCIES 18 by Iain Grant |
| Wed 6th Sep 2006 |
The Greens on Saturday won the biggest scalp in their 44-year history if the distinguished, albeit dated, track record of their opponents is taken into account.
The city side, a major victim of the modern professional era, are battling to reclaim their long-time status as one of the country’s premier clubs.
On the basis of Saturday’s 10-try hiding on their first appearance at Millbank, recapturing their former glory days may be beyond them.
That should not detract from what was a competent and at times exhilarating performance from Caithness.
Following their bonus win versus Allan Glen’s the previous week, it fuels hopes that they can end up in the upper half of National League Division 2.
Saturday’s display featured what Greens’ coach Colin Sangster viewed as a prime contender for the try of this or indeed any other season at Millbank.
It was one of three scored by centre William Mill, with the others falling to skipper John Foubister (2), Duncan Sangster (2), James ‘Pop’ Sinclair, Andy Morris and Evan Sutherland.
Fly-half Michael Henderson added 15 points from six conversions and a penalty.
The visitors were left battered, bewildered and only marginally consoled by two late tries to add to their earlier two penalties.
Founded 140 years ago, Accies were one of the SRU’s original member clubs and went on to be Scottish champions 14 times and produce 82 Scottish caps and three Lions.
They were in the top division when national league rugby started up in 1973.
But shamateurism followed by professionalism heralded a slump in their fortunes.
The ship was only steadied by a merger with GHK and a further amalgamation to form Glasgow Hawks in 1996, which led to Accies starting that season in Glasgow District 3.
Under the charge of former player and Scottish back rower John Beattie, they climbed to NL2, where they finished fifth last season.
Sangster was delighted with how his men went for the jugular from the outset on Saturday, with the four-try bonus point secured within 20 minutes.
"We scored our first try in the first minute and they just never settled.
"Their setpiece as pretty strong
Their scrum was a bit shaky to begin with but became solid and their line-out was quite good.
"But in the broken play, we were just far too good for them."
The opener came when the visitors were penalised at a scrum in their own 22 and failed to react to a quickly-taken tap-and-go from young scrum-half Kris Hamilton.
He handed on to Duncan Sangster who cantered over.
The second came after winger James ‘Pop’ Sinclair stepped inside his marker before chipping ahead and beating the opposition full-back on the chase for the ball in-goal.
Four of the touchdown came from training ground moves, with two stemming from drives off ball thrown to the tail of the line-out.
"We scored some fantastic open-field tries, with the one near the end being just about the best I can remember seeing at Millbank.
The 80 metre move started in the Greens’ 22 with Hamilton feeding Henderson whose cut-out pass gave James Paterson the opportunity to make inroads.
Inside passes to Duncan Sangster and Evan Sutherland took play into the opposition 22.
Sutherland offloaded in the tackle to the supporting Hamilton who somehow kept play alive after being scragged five metres from the line.
His improvised, over-the-shoulder flip will not be seen in any textbook but it was gathered by Mill to allow him to go over under the posts.
Coach Sangster is keen his charges do not get carried away with their super-charged start to the campaign and keep their feet firmly on the ground.
"Overall, it was another step on from the week before, which is encouraging," said the coach.
"But we have some very hard challenges ahead, starting with tomorrow’s away match at Howe of Fife."
The coach singled out Wick High schoolboy Hamilton for his display on Saturday in which he complemented his passing game with some clever, sniping breaks and support play.
Hamilton will get the nod again tomorrow if established scrum-half Graham Fryer needs more time to recover from a leg injury.
Mill will miss the trip to Cupar and James ‘Pop’ Sinclair is back offshore but Norman Foubister is available to make his first appearance of the league campaign.
Caithness - R. Mackay, James ‘Pop’ Sinclair, W. Mill, D. Sangster, J. Paterson, M. Henderson, K. Hamilton, J. Foubister (cpt), D. Pottinger, T. Sutherland, E. Boyd, A. Morris, A. Sangster, E. Sutherland, G. Sutherland. Replacements (all used) - D. Buchanan, S. Dunnett and James ‘Pigeon’ Sinclair.
Ref - Mr G. Duncan, Ellon.
Tomorrow’s fixture card features the visit of Garnock to last year’s NLD3 champions Falkirk in a clash between two of the probable title contenders.
Falkirk recovered from the loss of an early try and a 14-12 deficit in Inverness to power to a 34-14 victory over Highland.
Garnock meanwhile racked up a runaway 55-7 victory in the Ayrshire derby versus Kilmarnock.
Howe of Fife edged to a 10-8 win in Glasgow against Allan Glen’s.
Of last year’s pair relegated from NLD1, Annan won 24-0 at Stewartry but Duns went down 30-18 at home to Linlithgow.
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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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