Caithness Exiles back on top in Boxing Day clash
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The Exiles/Students came out on top in the annual Boxing Day clash for the Sinclair Cadzow Trophy.
Their second victory in a row never looked in doubt from the second minute onwards when Craig Chalmers dotted down the first of their five tries.
The Greens battled gamely but were regularly under the cosh and could not complain about the 31-5 margin of defeat.
Dundee-based Stuart Kirk assembled a strong squad that had several local former Greens, including scrum half Kris Hamilton, number eight Grant Anderson and prop Tom McGee.
Orcadian Glenn Brough's scheduled appearance was derailed by a broken hand he sustained in Kirkwall's Christmas Day ba' game.
Heavy morning sleet showers abated to produce dry if chill conditions for the game, which attracted a bumper crowd of about 500.
Some were still arriving when a slick left-to-right three-quarter move ended with Kirk's pass giving Chambers the opportunity to squeeze over in the corner.
The Exiles were hogging the ball with brothers Grant and Marc Anderson both stopped inches short in quick succession.
A crunching last-man tackle from Scott Webster foiled Kirk as the home men's defence was tested to the full.
The dam broke on 30 minutes when the free-running Bruce Stewart bullocked over from 30 metres. Kirk added the extras.
The Greens were rarely seen in opposition territory with their threat largely confined to solo breaks rather than sustained attacks.
Hamilton's snipes around the fringes and varied kicking kept the Greens defence on their toes.
Just as their coach Cameron Boyd was looking to regroup at the interval, they conceded a third try deep into added time.
A quick tap-and-go penalty from Kirk released his Dundee colleague, Orkney lock Cammy Fraser, who ploughed over from close range.
The Greens enjoyed the better of the early second half exchanges, though their threat was blunted by careless hands.
The Exiles effectively killed off the contest on 56 minutes when Kirk brushed aside two would-be tacklers to cross for a try he converted.
Caithness enjoyed their best spell early in the final quarter when they forced a run of penalties.
Jamie Mowat twice kicked to the corner but each time Fraser pounced to pirate the line-out ball.
They persevered with the ploy and on 65 minutes, they got on the scoreboard when a close-in surge was finished off by Lachlan Jardine.
Cameron Ryder's conversion hit the nearside upright.
The Exiles played the last 10 minutes one short when lock forward Stewart was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Scott Webster as the full back hared down the right flank.
The final score went the way of Kirk's troops. After a rampaging break down the right flank by Andy Nicolson was thwarted, the ball was quickly recycled to allow Grant Anderson to touch down.
It sealed the Exiles' seventh success in the memorial match, which was inaugurated in 1996.
Kirk was delighted how well his side gelled, given their only preparation was immediately before the game.
"I thought we probably had 90 per cent of possession in the first half but we just couldn't convert enough of our opportunities," said the 23-year-old dental student. "We probably kicked too much."
Kirk added: "I always thought we were quite comfortable, though too often we had a bit of white line fever.
"It was really important that we pinched these two line-outs when they were pressing our line.
"It was nice to get another win and I will be looking to make it three-in-a-row next year."
Paul Stewart, who reffed the earlier women's game, shared officiating duties at the men's match with Ewan Scott.
