Caithness hit by injuries as lead is wiped out at Invergordon
A collective fade-out in the final quarter consigned the Greens to a second away defeat in the North Conference of Caley 1 on Saturday.
They had led Ross Sutherland 21-19 but then shipped 32 points without reply.
A much-rejigged squad and injuries to key players proved terminal to their hopes.
Just seven featured in the side that had started the previous week’s impressive 27-10 victory over Highland Seconds.
Skipper Cole Wilson was moved from his normal berth in the back row to partner Aaron Brook in the midfield, while Jamie Mowat returned at fly-half.
The tussle at Invergordon’s Naval Grounds was evenly fought in the opening 40 minutes.
The Greens were not flattered by their slender interval advantage. Tries by Wilson, lock Kevin Budge and hooker Duncan MacMillan were all converted by Mowat.
The visitors kept their noses in front until around the hour mark.
By then, Wilson, Budge, Brook and lock Tom Storey had all been forced to make early exits.
Ross took advantage to turn the screw and end up victors by 53-21.
Michael McClenaghan and Freddie Kennedy each bagged a brace of tries, with the others coming from Andy Johnston, John Mann, Jacob McCormick, Kieran Fitzpatrick and Owen Corr, who added four conversions.
Caithness head coach Cameron Boyd continues to have one arm tied behind his back by having to field under-strength sides on the road.
“It just seems to be where we are at the moment,” he said.
“On the positive side, it’s giving some of our younger, less experienced boys game time with the Firsts and so, long as they keep learning from it, that can only be good for their development.”
Boyd felt the run of injuries disrupted the game plan which they had executed well in the first half.
“Ross are a good, young, fit side and are quick to pounce on mistakes and we did get sloppy towards the end,” he said.
“They also adapted to the way the referee wanted the game played faster than we did.”
Boyd nursed a minor grievance when Caithness were denied a touchdown late on which would have earned them a try bonus.
Wilson and Budge face spells out with knee injuries, while Brook and Storey will miss Saturday's trip to Ellon because of concussion protocols.
Also missing from the squad will be Scott and Douglas Webster, Charlie Quinn and Dave McIntosh.
Mark Nicolson and Angus Lapsley come back into the reckoning, while Reece Coghill has rehabilitated from a knee ligament replacement and is close to a return to action.
Aberdeenshire are joint top of the North Conference on maximum points with Ross after their 30-24 home win over Highland Seconds on Saturday.
Ellon posted their first win of the season, beating North Police 59-28.
