Caithness coach looking for tighter performance ahead of new season
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The Greens head for Invergordon on Saturday to complete their preparations for the start of their Caledonian Regional Division 1 campaign.
Basic mistakes cost them in their first run-out away to Orkney last Saturday when they went down 52-14.
Coach Kenny Russell, in his second season in charge, is looking for a tighter, more attritional performance when they face Ross Sutherland.
He is having to contend with a clutch of regulars being missing for the opening couple of months for one reason or another.
While training has gone well, and spirit in the camp is good, options in the back line in particular are going to be extremely limited.
Saturday's match on the back pitch at Kirkwall's Pickaquoy was split into four quarters.
Russell said: "We gave them their first three tries in the first quarter by missed one-on-one tackles.
"We were defending really, really narrow and within two passes they would get in behind us."
After they were trailing 26-0, the Caithness coach took heart from an improved display in the second 20 minutes.
"We played a lot better in the second period," he said. "We saw a lot more of the ball and our attack had a lot more bite.
"The good thing was that we remained in the fight."
Caithness scored two tries without reply during this period as they closed to 26-14. Scrum-half Euan MacDonald grabbed the first when he dotted down after dummying to pass from the base of a five-metre scrum.
Soon after, Hamish Coghill rumbled over from close in after a long spell of pressure. Jamie Mowat goaled both.
Turnovers cost the Greens dear in the third period. After pirating ball in the opposition half, the islanders extended their lead to 40-14 with two long-range tries.
Russell thought his men had the better of the final quarter.
But they were unable to convert multi-phase attacks deep in enemy territory, while Orkney capitalised on defensive lapses to run in two more tries.
Reflecting on the outing, Russell said it had proved a useful exercise.
"I think it showed how we need to play with more width, in both defence and attack," he said.
"We need to improve our line speed and be more clinical when we are in the red zone."
Of the 21-strong squad, Russell singled out 18-year-old centre Liam Flavell, new loose head Cole Wilson and flanker Duncan Mackay.
The outcome of the match reflected the higher ranking of the hosts, who are two tiers above Caithness in the newly revamped league set-up.
They are preparing for life in National League 3, with their first outing a trip to Glasgow to meet West of Scotland.
The Greens' first Caley 1 League assignment is away to last year's Caley 2 champions Moray on August 26.
