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Caithness overpowered by Preston Lodge in shield final





Caithness reached the national shield final for the first time.
Caithness reached the national shield final for the first time.

Caithness 6 Preston Lodge 27

CAITHNESS RFC's dreams of winning its first national final ended in tears as they were overpowered by an impressive Preston Lodge 27-6 at Broadwood.

The Greens got off to a dream start after just four minutes when Pete Johnstone was guilty of not releasing his tackler in the ruck. Liam Brims slotted the penalty straight down the middle from 30 metres to send 300 fans from the Far North wild.

Preston Lodge brought matters level two minutes later when Caithness were penalised for hands in the ruck.

Graeme Paterson had the simplest of tasks slotting the ball home in front of the posts from 20 metres.

Caithness were reduced to 14 men when Andrew Morris was sin binned for 10 minutes when he was penalised for tackling in an offside position in front of the posts which would have denied Preston Lodge a certain try.

Instead of going for the three points, Preston Lodge opted for a scrum and from resulting drives, the lack of men in the Greens forward pack proved too much.

Caithness deliberately brought a drive down a metre from the try line and the referee awarded a penalty try which was converted by Paterson.

Liam Brims was given two opportunities to reduce the deficit but failed on his first attempt when his 30 metre penalty hit the post.

But from 40 metres out minutes later, he had no issue with a thunderous punt to make the scoreline 10 - 6.

Before half time Caithness were reduced again to 14 men when Norman Foubister was sin binned for foul play.

The opposition took advantage when Chris Thomas fed in Blair Robertson from close range to give PL a healthy 17 – 6 half time advantage.

Straight from the second half, Stevie Campbell was penalised for being offside and Graeme Paterson fancied his chances as he kicked into touch instead of going for a penalty.

Despite Foubister coming on to make it 15 players each, Preston Lodge’s forward pack proved too powerful as they drove over through Paul Voy to go 22-7 ahead.

The Prestonpans outfit put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark when Voy found holes in the green defence to set up Dale Gordon to run in a try from ten metres.

Caithness thought they’d grabbed a consolation try when Kris Hamilton crossed the line, but the referee ruled it out when he judged the scrum half was guilty of crossing.

In the last seconds of the game Stevie Campbell broke free with only Preston Lodge full back Paterson to beat.

He passed to Scott Webster on his left, but the teenager failed to catch the ball and knocked it on.

But Colin Sangster and his men were given a standing ovation at full time by the hundreds of greens fans who showed their appreciation to the team for getting to the final.


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