Greens and Krakens come out on top in Boxing Day encounters
Caithness scored a double success in the annual Boxing Day rugby clashes at Millbank.
The Greens and the Krakens prevailed in their respective annual tussles against scratch squads comprising county exiles and students, with a few home-based players bolstering their numbers.
A crowd of more than 300 were treated to two entertaining, competitive matches on an unseasonably mild and dry afternoon, though underfoot conditions were squelchy.
The Greens triumphed 37-17 to wrest the Sinclair Cadzow Memorial Trophy from the Exiles, who had won in 2022 and 2023.
The Krakens, meanwhile, posted a 42-26 victory in the earlier 10-a-side match played on the top pitch.
The men’s game produced 10 tries and gave the Greens a useful outing in advance of their outstanding three home fixtures as they continue their fight to preserve their place in the North Conference of Caley 1.
The Exiles made a vigorous start with a rampaging run from their British Army under-23 rep Jordan Miller giving an early sample of the threat he was to pose.
The pressure failed to yield any points and it was the Greens who opened the scoring when fly-half Marc Anderson stepped inside to touch down near the posts before landing the conversion.
Home skipper Cole Wilson was then stopped inches short before scrum-half Euan MacDonald scampered over.
The Exiles got on the scoreboard midway through the first half when a tap penalty from George Sutherland paved the way for the Exiles’ other Army player, Bruce Stewart, to strongarm his way over the line.
There was little to choose between the sides in terms of possession and territory but four further tries from the Greens had them decisively ahead by the interval.
A close-range snipe earned MacDonald his second before a booming touchline kick from full-back Gary Mackay was the prelude to left winger Grant Mackay touching down.
Anderson chased his own chip to bag his second and then Miller’s injury-time try, converted by centre Andrew Nicolson, was countered immediately by one at the other end by right-winger Drew Mathieson.
The Exiles enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball after the interval but struggled to pierce a resolute defence.
It took a coruscating midfield break from Nicolson to finally break the code, with his pass freeing scrum-half Graham Fryer to cross on the hour mark.
The scoring was completed 10 minutes from time when Anderson’s kick-through was taken on the run by Max Kennedy to seal the Greens’ first victory since 2019.
The women’s match again showcased the depth of talent nurtured by the club’s junior and senior coaches over the years.
The 10-a-side clash saw both sides committed to an expansive, fast-flowing game plan in a match which also produced 10 tries.
The first score went to the Exiles, with Steph Craig darting through a chink in the Krakens’ defence to finish off an early bout of pressure.
The home side responded through Emmie Smith, who powered over to open the account for Mike Flavell’s team.
Further long-range tries from Caitlin Harvey and Smith and three conversions from Carly Erridge opened up a 21-7 lead at the interval.
The Exiles opened the second half, as they had the first, with a concerted spell of pressure and again it paid dividends when scrum-half Hannah Dunnett darted through to touch down.
They threatened to pull level but the home defence proved resilient and the Krakens pulled away with further touchdowns from Erridge and Smith.
Smith completed her hat-trick, sandwiched between two more from Dunnett.
The Hillhead Jordanhill player, who turned out for Scotland under-18s last year, finished the day with a personal haul of 21 points from three tries and three conversions. Erridge converted Smith’s last try to end the day with a 100 per cent record off the tee.
Both games were well handled by referees Ewan Scott and Paul Stewart.
