‘Everyone put in a shift’: Krakens front up to earn a draw with league leaders
The real Caithness Krakens made their belated seasonal debut on Saturday as they took points off high-flying Highland.
After three successive underwhelming defeats, they fronted up to earn a 17-17 draw with the Caley North 1 frontrunners.
On a raw day at Millbank, Mike Flavell’s squad were unfortunate not to come out on top of an enthralling, hard-fought contest.
It was a remarkable turnaround from Highland’s 16-try rout of the Krakens in Inverness in mid-September.
Similar displays against the league’s lesser lights should see them comfortably stave off relegation fears.
From the off, the home side looked a different proposition as line breaks from Caitlin Harvey and skipper Ellie Anderson had their opponents in scramble defence mode.
Anderson’s incision sparked a left-to-right sortie which ended with inside centre Lauren Gunn crossing near the right corner flag only for the score to be chalked off for a foot in touch.
The breakthrough was not long delayed after an attempted breakout by the visitors from their own 22 with six minutes gone. Harvey and outside centre Devin Stuart were quick to scavenge and Harvey chased her own hack through in goal to touch down.
Playing with the advantage of the stiff diagonal wind, the Krakens looked to press home the advantage.
A powerful carry from number eight Keira Nellies launched a sustained onslaught which ended with a knock-on in the shadow of the line.
Highland had several elusive, fast runners with centre Rheo Laurenson a regular menace.
The visitors drew level on 23 minutes when they struck on their first visit to the opposition 22. They worked an overlap and stand-off Caitlin Hollands sent right winger Holly Duncan over.
The Krakens responded within two minutes when a trademark yard-guzzling run from Emmie Barter got in behind enemy lines and Stuart was sent free to touch down. Carly Erridge nailed the conversion to put her side 12-5 up.
A run of penalties conceded by the city outfit in short order led to a yellow card for hard-running number eight Susanna MacDonald just before the break.
Caithness almost exploited the one-woman advantage in the first action of the second half when right winger Megan Douglas was felled a metre short.
Highland went on to enjoy their best spell and would have added to MacDonald’s converted try but for two textbook one-on-one tackles by full-back Erridge.
It was then the Krakens’ turn to dominate and Barter fended off two opponents on a touchline breenge to put her side 17-12 ahead midway through the half.
Back came Highland, and 12 minutes from time a breakout released centre Elle Briggs who ran in from the 22. Hollands’ conversion attempt faded wide to leave the scores tied at 17-17.
The home woman-of-the-match Erridge had a chance to win it with a late penalty. But her attempt in the midst of a thunderstorm went askew.
Visiting coach Brian Crush said: “I think it was a fair result given the efforts of both sides who played some really good rugby in tough conditions.
“We were expecting a tough encounter and that is exactly what we got.”
Flavell was delighted by the grit and craft displayed by his players.
“It was definitely a lot better,” he said. “It was a really good performance. Everyone put in a shift.”
He added: “It was like day and night compared with the game in Inverness.”
The Krakens’ next outing is away to Shetland Valkyries a week on Saturday.
Shetland on Saturday romped to an 82-0 home victory over Inverness Craig Dunain.
Lochaber leapfrogged Aberdeenshire Quines into second after defeating them 61-10 in Fort William.