|
|
 |
| ALLAN GLEN'S 41 - CAITHNESS 0 by Iain Grant |
| Fri 17th Nov 2006 |
The Greens’ slump continued on Saturday as their fledgling outfit suffered a six try reverse on their first return fixture of the National Division 2 campaign.
They competed well in the first 40 minutes when they trailed 7-0 on their first visit to the Bearyards, located in the leafy suburb of Bishopbriggs.
But their hosts came on strong after the interval to more than avenge their 37-7 hiding in Thurso on the opening day of the season.
Caithness were forced to field a young, inexperienced side, with the back row the only unit to remain the same as in the earlier encounter.
With this being their first action in three weeks, they could have been forgiven for displaying signs of ring-rustiness.
But they made an impressive start, retaining the ball well and putting Glen’s under pressure in the first couple of scrums.
The Greens’ defence also showed up well, with the clutch of teenagers in the back division all showing commendable resistance.
After a score-less 30 minutes, Glen’s took the lead with an opportunist try from their livewire scrum-half Simon Costar.
He caught the visitors napping after a penalty was awarded against them.
Costar took a quick tap to run half the length of the pitch to touch down and give Steve O’Donnell an easy conversion.
Caithness had been playing with the advantage of a breeze in the first period.
Just before the break, there was a sea change in conditions as the wind got up to blow directly down the pitch.
The visitors also had to face torrential rain after the turnaround when they were seldom out of their own 22.
Soon after the restart, Glen’s drew further ahead when flanker Ian Whitten rounded off a series of forward charges by barging over near the posts.
O’Donnell missed the easy kick but redeemed himself minutes later.
The full-back’s well-timed encroachment into the line saw him cruise over wide out and then nail the touchline conversion.
Caithness were struggling to make headway in attack and were being subjected to intense pressure by opponents who cut loose at every opportunity.
Further tries came from flanker Tony Wright and number eight Jamie Grant, the latter after a surging run from Whitten.
Just before the end, the a well-measured chip by stand-off Phil Cartmell put winger Steven Kirk in for the final try.
O’Donnell added two further conversions to an earlier penalty.
Bob Leckie, president of Allan Glen’s said: "This was the first time we really clicked though we were made to struggle in the first half.
"Despite the score, Caithness never gave up and Glen’s had to work hard for their scores."
Greens coach Colin Sangster was left to reflect on a fourth successive defeat which effectively sounds the deathknell on his side’s promotion bid.
He was encouraged by the first half display of his troops.
"I thought we played pretty well before half-time," he said.
"We worked very hard in defence and put in some great tackles and it was disappointing to lose the score we did when we turned out backs after they were awarded a penalty.
"They probably had just a wee bit more of the ball so 7-0 was just about right."
Sangster believes Caithness tried to play too much rugby in their own territory when nothing was really on.
The deteriorating weather did his side no favours and he accepts that they were struggling throughout the second half.
"We were under the cosh for just about the whole of the half.
"Once they scored a couple of tries, there was no way back for us.
"It is then we could have done with a bit of experience but the average age of the side must then have been under 20."
Sangster said Glen’s used the right tactics to create and exploit scoring opportunities.
"Their coach told me that is the best they have played all season," he said.
This weekend, Caithness face a return trip to Glasgow to take on an Accies side still smarting about their 65-18 reverse in Thurso.
Those heady early season days seem a distant memory as the Greens look to end a four game losing streak.
Sangster says the club is suffering due to its limited playing pool.
He said: "We always knew National League Division 2 was going to be hard but if we had been able to field something close to a full strength team each week, we’d be sitting near the top of the league.
"We just don’t have the strength-in-depth to deal with the numbers we have had out in recent weeks."
The Greens have a double boost tomorrow with the return of lock forwards Andy Morris and Ewen Boyd.
They will provide much-needed experience and nous to the side for the encounter at New Anniesland.
On the debit side, an ankle injury makes prop Tommy Sutherland a doubt while a badly swollen foot could rule out centre Duncan Sangster.
Allan Glen’s - S. O’Donnell, R. McKeown, D. Letham, S. Buys, S. Kirk, P. Cartmell, S. Costar, D. Morrison, D. Stevenson, S. Henderson, K. Jenkins, G. Pirret, T. Wright, I. Whittten, J. Grant. Replacements - A. Johnston, C. Spitoni and G. Thomson (all used).
Caithness - S. Duff, J. Paterson, D. Sangster, B. McIntosh, D. Gordon, R. Mackay, K. Hamilton, J. Foubister (cpt), S. Campbell, T. Sutherland, G. Anderson, J. Hamilton, G. Sutherland, A. Sangster, E. Sutherland. Replacements - S. Dunnett, D. Lewis-Saunders and R. McIntosh (all used).
Caithness had the unwanted record of being the biggest losers in their division on Saturday.
Winless Duns shipped 43 points at Falkirk but they did manage to register a try against the league leaders.
Annan are looking good value for a quick return to NLD1.
Their solid 18-0 home success over Glasgow Accies keeps them second.
Howe of Fife’s strong charge was checked by a 24-15 reverse at home to Garnock while Linlithgow maintained their promotion challenge with a 24-5 win over Stewartry.
Highland were a revitalised Kilmarnock’s latest victims.
The Ayrshire side’s 15-3 victory was their third on the bounce to allow them to pull away from the bottom two and take to within five points of the Inverness outfit.
|
| Back to News |
|
 |
|
|
|
| Stewartry |
1 |
5 |
| Berwick |
1 |
5 |
| Newton Stewart |
1 |
5 |
| Caithness |
1 |
5 |
| Waysiders Drumpellier |
1 |
4 |
| Highland |
1 |
4 |
| Alan Glens |
1 |
1 |
| Aberdeenshire |
1 |
1 |
| Hawick YM |
1 |
1 |
| Glasgow Accies |
1 |
0 |
| Kilmarnock |
1 |
0 |
| Annan |
1 |
0 |
|
 |
| 1st XV Season (2009/10) |
| Kilmarnock 81 - 5 Caithness |
| 17th Apr 10 - KO: 12:00 |
| Venue: Bellsland |
| :: Match Report |
 |
| 1st XV Season (2010/11) |
| Caithness vs Kilmarnock |
| 4th Sep 10 - KO: 15:00 |
| Venue: Millbank |
| :: More Fixtures |
|
