Early blow as Greens suffer cup defeat
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ORKNEY 31 - 11 CAITHNESS
LOSING a cup game in the first competitive fixture for six years versus old rivals Orkney is not the ideal way to launch the Greens’ new campaign.
But there were plenty of positives new coach Donald MacIntosh was able to take from Saturday’s defeat in Kirkwall.
He had few complaints about the performance of his pack with basic errors and poor decision-making in the backs his side’s main shortcoming.
Two late tries put an unfair gloss on the winning margin for the spirited islanders who were adept at converting try-scoring opportunities.
The visitors perhaps took too much heart from turning round just four points behind after playing into a strong wind down the back pitch at Pickaquoy.
A Liam Brims penalty for Caithness followed a converted try from home number eight Andy Cuddihy.
The Greens were dealt an early blow in the RBS Caledonia Shield first-round clash when experienced lock Andy Morris had to retire after picking up a rib injury 10 minutes into the game.
Orkney drew confidence from a try shortly after the interval when scrum-half William Thomson caught the opposing defence napping with an unopposed dart down the blindside.
Fly-half James Linklater stretched the lead to 17-3 when he exploited a gap in the defensive line.
Caithness struck back with a Brims penalty and then a try from lock John Miller after a rumble from a close-in line-out.
The tie appeared to be going the visitors’ way as they dominated possession and played lengthy spells in the Orkney 22.
The next score would be vital and it stemmed from a rehearsed Caithness three-quarter move.
Unfortunately for Brims, his would-be money ball 10 minutes from time was seized on by speedster Philip Ross who romped three quarters the length of the park to score a try, improved by Linklater.
The flying winger grabbed a second long-range converted try to sink the final nail in the visitors’ coffin in the last minute.
While the result hurt coach Mackintosh, he drew heart from aspects of his side’s performance.
"I though our performance up front was generally good," he said. "Our forwards played out of their skins but we struggled as our backs did not do enough with the possession they received."
He believes too many of his charges may have mentally slackened off after feeling they had built the platform with their first-half display win against the elements.
"We had laid the basis but there’s no use expecting that victory will just come. Saying that, we had them in their 22 for most of the second half but just couldn’t turn the pressure we had into points."
Orkney: R. Moody, B. Linklater, D. Campbell, D. Tualasea, P. Ross, J. Linklater, W. Thomson (captain), E. Drever, S. Rendall, R. Thomson, J. Cursiter, A. Baird, A. Brown, W. Elliot, A. Cuddihy. Replacements used: A. Watson, D. Ross and E. Manson.
Caithness: G. Macleod, M. Oswald, G. Murphy, G. Poke, Y. Coghill, L. Brims, G. Fryer, S. Dunnett (captain), H. Coghill, T. Sutherland, A. Morris, J. Miller, R. Gray, E. Sutherland, M. Duffy. Replacements used: R. Coghill, P. Nicolson and A. Nicolson.
Meanwhile, Scottish rugby may have adopted a regionalised format below the top four leagues but there remains some lengthy treks in the new-look RBS Caledonia first division.
Try telling Glenrothes this weekend this is the start of a new era designed to limit travel and expense.
That, however, is the nature of a district which basically takes in all teams north of the Forth Road Bridge.
The new 10-team setup certainly favours Caithness whose schedule of overnight fixtures will drop from nine to three.
Glenrothes will be making their first appearance at Millbank since December 2005 in the-then National League Division 3.
Newly installed Greens coach Donald MacIntosh is only too well aware of the importance of getting off to a winning start tomorrow.
He said: "We want to set out our stall and get off to a winning start in front of our home support. It’s a must-win match for us and it’s essential we take the game to them right from the kick-off."
Last time, the Greens won 48-0 but MacIntosh would settle for a win of any kind.
Former skipper Andy Morris’s rib injury sustained in Saturday’s cup defeat in Orkney would have sidelined him though he is not available in any case.
The back division will be strengthened by centre Norman Foubister and utility back James Sinclair.
Flanker Michael Duffy, back after a year’s spell in Australia, looked lively against Orkney while the experienced David Pottinger trained this week and could win a spot on the bench.
The Anderson brothers, forward Grant and centre Marc, remain out, both nursing shoulder injuries.
Tomorrow’s match, which kicks off at 3pm, is sponsored by the Thurso branch of RBS.
Other Caley Shield first-round ties on Saturday featured the surprise exit of Highland, who went down 34-22 to Gordonians.
Aberdeenshire won 56-17 at Glenrothes while Hillfoots defeated Mackie Academy FPs 30-15 at Stonehaven.
