Exiles run in six tries against Greens to win trophy
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CAITHNESS 13 - 36 EXILES
THE Exiles proved too strong for Caithness in the annual Boxing Day fixture for the Sinclair Cadzow Memorial Cup.
In racking up a six-tries-to-one victory, they got their hands on the trophy for the first time in nearly a decade.
Unlike the two previous years when the festive game fell victim to freeze-ups, Monday’s tussle went ahead on a mild, if blustery, day with the pitch in surprisingly firm condition given the amount of rain that had fallen over the previous 48 hours.
The guest side used the raging wind in its favour at Millbank to build up a healthy 29-6 half-time lead.
The Greens defended stoutly after leaking an early try when an off-the-top line-out ball sparked a move which ended with Exiles skipper Donald Sangster going over near the posts.
Though pinned back in their own 22 for lengthy spells, Caithness kept their defensive shape well and regularly frustrated their opponents.
The second score came 15 minutes from the interval when a delayed pass from fly half Blair McIntosh sent winger Danny Gordon over under the posts for a try, improved by James O’Brien.
From the restart, Caithness took advantage of their first incursion into Exiles territory when fly half Liam Brims – making his comeback following a broken scaphoid in his wrist – landed a penalty.
Hopes this might spark a sustained revival from the Caley 1 side proved illusory as they leaked three tries in the closing 10 minutes of the half.
A line-break from centre James Paterson paved the way for hooker Davie McIvor to scamper over. Paterson then took advantage of the breakdown of a Caithness move to hack upfield several times before picking up and going over.
Donald Sangster, a constant thorn in the flesh of the Greens with his trademark dynamic breaks and off-loads, then engineered space for scrum half Kris Hamilton to scoot down the left touchline for the fifth try of the day.
Wing Kris Gove converted before a second penalty from Brims left the Exiles 23 points clear by the interval.
It was a gap Caithness never looked capable of closing, even with the wind on their backs.
Exiles number eight Andrew Sangster was held up inches short soon after the resumption as they looked to kill off the contest.
The breakthrough was delayed for a few minutes before McIntosh finished off a close-range move, O’Brien adding the extras.
Caithness struggled throughout to build momentum when they tried to take on the Exiles pack or find a cutting edge when they moved the ball wide.
Number eight Evan Sutherland and centre Marc Anderson were prominent with breaks but the only points they were able to muster came from a late try from lock John Miller, converted by Anderson.
Newly returned Greens coach Colin Sangster had no complaints about the final score.
Speaking after his first match back in charge, he said: “We have a power of work to do to be ready for the second half of the league.
“On Monday, we were outmuscled and were second best in the contact area. We started fairly well and were defending well but then we made a few stupid mistakes and went into our shells.”
The trophy was presented to winning captain Donald Sangster, of Stewart’s Melville, by Eilidh Cadzow.
Caithness have no game tomorrow with their next outing a league match at home to Orkney on January 14.
Caithness: G. Macleod, J. Sinclair, G. Poke, M. Nicolson, M. Oswald, L. Brims, G. Fryer, S. Dunnett, M. Nicolson, R. Pottinger, J, Miller, A. Morris, E. Sutherland, G. Anderson, R. Coghill. Replacements: C. Smith, P. Nicolson, H. Coghill, M. Gunn, R. Miller, A. Nicolson and C. Spargo.
Exiles: J. O’Brien, K. Gove, Duncan Sangster, J. Patterson, D. Gordon, B. McIntosh, K. Hamilton, H. Pottinger, D. McIvor, P. Sheerin, B. Stewart, C. MacDonald, C. Simpson, A. Sangster, D. Sangster (cpt). Replacements: R. Mill, A. Findlay and S. Grant.
Referee: R. MacNicol.
