Greens put frustrations behind them with victory over leaders
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Caithness 1st XV put the frustrations of their stop-start season behind them with a richly deserved 26-14 triumph over Caledonia League 1 North Conference leaders Aberdeenshire.
Shire had recorded a 46-10 home victory over the Greens at the start of October, but in Saturday's contest at Millbank they ran into a pumped-up pack who outgunned their counterparts in all phases of the game.
Caithness defused the attacking threats of the visitors, while their ball retention was exemplary given the greasy underfoot conditions.
An early set of pick-and-goes and powerful carries from Kevin Budge and Cole Wilson set the standard and the visitors were rarely to escape their own half in the first period.
Early kickable penalties were turned down in favour of potential five or seven-pointers.
Several mauls off five-metre lineouts came to nothing but the sustained pressure finally paid off on 18 minutes with a sweeping move down the short-side on the left.
Full-back Scott Webster's would-be scoring pass to left winger Cameron Ryder was knocked to the ground by Shire's Kevin Emslie. That earned the tighthead a yellow card and Caithness were awarded a penalty try.
Seven minutes later, an attack down the opposite flank saw Webster and Charlie Quinn combine, with the latter setting right wing Drew Mathieson with a free run to the line only for the last pass to be called forward.
Nine minutes from the interval, a lineout drive opened the way for number eight Wilson to coast over for a try, improved by Ryder.
The visitors finished the half on top and, after an intense spell of pressure, opened their account with a close-range try from loosehead Freddy Ho, converted by Mikey Mair.
The pendulum continued to swing Shire's way after the interval with a series of penalties seeing them corralled in the Caithness 22.
Scrum-half Paul Harrow was prominent with a sparky lineout as the Greens soaked up relentless pressure.
They should have made it tell when they worked an overload, with full-back Stephen McKee looking set to cross only to spill the ball in-goal.
Shire were dealt a further blow with the sin-binning of Ho for a high tackle.
The Greens took advantage and just after the hour-mark went 19-7 ahead. Webster got on the end of an incisive counter to touch down, with Ryder adding the conversion.
Shortly after, they nailed the bonus-point try when a yard-guzzling break from Wilson saw him downed on the Shire 22. He popped the ball up to Gordy Macleod who found Webster to power over for his second.
A late spell of pressure saw Shire reduce the deficit with a try from number eight Jason Burton, converted by Mair.
It could have been a nervier end had Mathieson not shown good pace to get back and prevent Harrow touching down after chasing his own fly-hack in-goal.
Head coach Cameron Boyd thought the Greens looked sharp in attack and resilient and organised in defence.
He singled out Kevin Brims for his sky-high tackle count.
The man-of-the-match award went to two-try Webster.
"Scott runs some great lines and has the ability to think a couple of phases ahead," Boyd said.
Harrow, who doubles as Shire's captain and coach, said: "We knew it was going to be a hard game – it always is up here.
"Fair play to them – that is the first time our pack has been challenged like that this season."
The Greens head to Aberdeen on Saturday to play Wanderers in the last game before the festive break.
Centre Dougie Webster is still banned, while Budge, Dave McIntosh, Calum MacDonald and Tom David are unavailable.
In other North Conference games, Moray's pursuit of Aberdeenshire suffered a major setback when they went down 40-21 in Ellon.
Mackie went joint third after winning 24-19 at RAF Lossiemouth.
Stornoway became just the second visitors to taste victory at Millbank this season after a dominant second half saw them defeat Caithness Seconds 31-10.
The Yellows were very much in the contest at the interval when they trailed 12-10 but they were floored by 19 unanswered points after the resumption.
Saturday's clash in the Highlands and Islands Conference of Caledonia North League 2 was notable for a 50-minute cameo from super-veteran David Pottinger, the assistant coach of the Greens and referee.
Pottinger's display at number eight included his side's second touchdown. The first came from prop Michael MacGregor.
Stornoway's points came from tries by Aiden Miller, Calum May (3) and Shaun Smith and three conversions from Alan Farrell.
Leaders Ross Sutherland romped to an 83-0 victory in Skye, while Banff beat visitors Shetland 43-26.
