Frustration for Greens as they slump to defeat in Inverness
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The Greens slumped to a disappointing 45-20 defeat away to Highland 2nd XV in Inverness on Saturday.
After a dire opening to their campaign in the Highlands and Islands conference of Caledonia Region Division 1, they travelled south boosted by an impressive home victory over Mackie and a draw away to RAF Lossiemouth.
But they were comfortably beaten by a streetwise Raptors side on the 4G main pitch under lights at Canal Fields.
The city side were boosted by the inclusion of three or four players who would have played for their Firsts had their game in Glasgow not been called off because of a frozen pitch.
After conceding an early converted try to Jacob Powell, Caithness saw a fair bit of the ball in the first half but their pressure produced a solitary penalty by stand-off Jamie Mowat.
In contrast, the Raptors were clinical in coming away with just about every foray into the opposition 22 with a score.
Three further tries by Andrew Kellock, Grant Jamieson and Freddie Talbot-Heigh, two converted, had them 26-3 ahead at the turnaround.
Powell's second ended the game as a contest.
But Cameron Boyd's men more than held their own in the third quarter with skipper Hamish Coghill crossing for a try, converted by Mowat.
Ruaridh Macdonald replied at the other end to extend Highland's advantage to 40-10.
It went pear-shaped for the visitors after centre Douglas Webster was red-carded around the hour mark for what the ref saw as a stamp on an opponent.
They had already by then lost scrum-half Euan MacDonald with a knee injury, resulting in Mowat replacing him and Scott Webster moving from full-back to take over the No 10 role.
Despite the blow, they contrived to narrow the leeway when Coghill went over for his second off a close-range maul from a lineout.
Highland put themselves under pressure after two of their number were yellow-carded in the final 10 minutes. The Greens took advantage by bagging their third try through number eight Cole Wilson.
But the hosts completed the scoring with Kellock bursting clear to score his second touchdown. Ross Gibson potted 10 points off the tee.
Coach Boyd said: "It was a really frustrating game for us and we're very disappointed by how it panned out.
"We were looking good in some areas with our set-piece really solid and forcing them to change their props in the first half.
"Our lineout also went pretty well and we were looking decent with the ball.
"But we must have made four or five entries to their 22 in the first half and came away with just three points. If we had taken a couple more of these opportunities, it would have been a lot closer.
"Highland were well drilled and very decisive and they made their spells of pressure count – that was the difference."
Caithness are at home on Saturday against basement side Aberdeen Wanderers.
MacDonald faces a lengthy spell out after damaging knee ligaments.
Scott Webster and Cameron Ryder are also unavailable in what has been a stop-start season given the clutch of home games where opposition have called off at the last minute.
Saturday's game has a 2pm kick-off.
It's as you were at the top of the league with runaway duo Aberdeenshire and Moray both recording comfortable victories on Saturday.
Shire's 62-19 home victory over Ellon leaves them in pole position, four points ahead but with a game more played than the Elgin side.
Moray racked up a 60-21 win at home to Mackie.
Caithness Seconds emerged with a lot of credit despite being on the wrong end of a 81-27 hiding on Saturday.
A run of late call-offs left the Yellows with just 10 players as they set off for their Highlands and Islands conference clash against Kinloss Eagles in Caley North 2.
The Moray side had a squad of 22 but agreed to play a 10-a-side match.
With just two recognised backs in their ranks, it was always going to be a long day on the field for the visitors.
"Yes, it was a big defeat, but I would see it as something of a moral victory," Caithness first-team coach Cameron Boyd said.
"That they went down with just 10 players and managed to score five tries – I am so proud of them."
One of their tries came from hooker Stuart Dunnett, his first for the club.
The Seconds face another long haul on Saturday to face league newcomers Skye.
Highland clinched the Caley North Women's League 2 title after a 57-0 home victory over Moray in a game cut short because of a nasty injury to one of the visitors.
The win allowed them to move two points ahead of Caithness Krakens, who had finished their programme.
