Exiles secure a sixth success in Millbank memorial match
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The Exiles/Students took the spoils on Tuesday in their annual festive encounter with Caithness.
The composite side packed too much punch for the Greens as they posted a 41-8 victory on a snow-covered Millbank in the match in memory of Sinclair Cadzow.
The heavy overnight fall put the match in doubt but the pitch passed a mid-morning inspection, with coloured cones used to mark the touchlines.
Despite the underfoot conditions and the numbing cold, it proved an entertaining, high-tempo match.
Dundee dentistry student Stuart Kirk assembled a very useful Exiles squad who quickly gelled together. They included three Dundee Rugby club-mates, Cameron Fraser, Sean Gauld and Nic Harris.
The quartet, who play in National League Division One, were joined by Liam Brims, stand-off with Super6 outfit Stirling, and Jordan Miller, late of the Southern Knights, and who is in the army under-23s.
They were also boosted by the inclusion of former Scotland under-19 Kris Hamilton who came out of retirement to play full-back.
It was none of the above, however, who claimed the team's player-of-the-day accolade. That went to former Greens captain Stevie Campbell, who now turns out for Mull in West Division 3.
The hard-working flanker was a constant threat with his sniping runs, terrier tackling and turnovers.
This was the Exiles' sixth success in the memorial match since it was inaugurated in 1996. After winning the first two, they have found wins hard to come by, with their last victory being in 2016.
Kirk, from Castletown, said: "I thought we were maybe just a bit sharper and clinical. It was great to see how the boys came together so well."
Stand-in Caithness coach David Pottinger had no complaints. He was disappointed with his side's defence and high error count.
Referees Paul Stewart and Ewen Scott did a half each.
From the outset, it was clear the Greens would have to be firing on all cylinders to live with the strong Exiles/Students XV in the Sinclair Cadzow Memorial Cup match.
The Exiles drew first blood with a penalty after five minutes, slotted over by Liam Brims. That was cancelled out shortly after by a three-pointer from Greens skipper Marc Anderson.
The composite side bossed the first half and made their pressure count with two tries in short order by Stuart Kirk, the outside centre twice showing a clean pair of heels after outflanking the cover defence.
Centre-turned-prop Jordan Miller romped clear to add a third touchdown.
Brims converted two to give his side a 22-3 interval lead.
The Greens improved after the break with Kevin Brims and Hamish Coghill putting in industrious shifts.
Miller added his second after being put clear to touch down at the tennis-court end.
Kris Hamilton presented a threat throughout, and 10 minutes from the end he was the last link in an overload to score.
Caithness finished the game strongly. A siege on the line was ended when Gordie Macleod burrowed over.
The Exiles though were not to be denied the last score with number eight Sean Gauld, one of the Dundee contingent, breaking away for his side's sixth try.
Brims converted two of the second-half tries to round off one of the Exiles' biggest wins over their hosts.
