Gritty display from defiant Greens
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE Greens needed to draw on all their reserves of grit and tenacity to prevail in Saturday's mud bath at Canal Park.
They fought back from conceding the opening try to deservedly avenge their earlier RBS Caley 1 League defeat in Thurso.
Their task was eased by Highland centre Dave Ramsay's red-carding soon after the turnaround. But by then the visitors were firmly in the ascendant and were only put under any serious pressure during a spirited last 10-minute stand by the city men.
As in the previous week's breeze against Orkney, Caithness were exceptionally well served by their mobile back row while scrum half Graham Fryer produced another tigerish display.
Blair McIntosh's inclusion at fullback gave a solid feel to the back three while teenage fly half Liam Brims demonstrated his growing nous and execution of the game plan.
A storming start from the Greens had Highland pinned in their 22 with the pressure exacting a penalty which Brims pushed just wide.
Highland drew ahead with what was their first serious foray on 16 minutes. Ross Thomson emerged from the spearhead of a driven line-out to crash over the line and was awarded the touchdown though Fryer appeared to prevent the number eight grounding the ball. Craig Irvine's conversion fell well short.
The Greens wasted no time in responding with lock John Miller's breenge deep into enemy territory resulting in a penalty for his tackler failing to roll away. Brims bisected the posts to end the scoring in the first half.
Irvine failed with two penalties before his side should have fallen behind with the last play before the turnaround. Stevie Campbell was set free from the halfway line and veered infield to create space outside for his support as he was sized up by fullback Andy Hill.
His would-be money pass to McIntosh, however, did not go to hand with the try line beckoning.
The visitors, who had played with the wind advantage, were warned shortly before the interval by ref Ted Coutts about the number of penalties they were giving away. The edict came back to bite home lock Ross Temple as he was shown yellow after infringing at the first breakdown after the resumption.
Minutes later, Highland were reduced to 13 when Ramsay was ordered off after he caught Marc Anderson with a boot to the head as the Greens centre lay prostrate after claiming a loose ball.
Short-handed Highland buckled down gamely to absorb the inevitable full-scale offensive.
Caithness vainly sought to convert several five-metre scrums as they pitched camp in the opposition 22.
A chip-through from Stevie Campbell almost paid dividends when Hill gathered but had his would-be clearance kick charged down by Marc Anderson. The ball ricocheted over the dead-ball line, leaving Anderson prone with a second blow to the head ending his involvement.
Highland had Temple back when the Greens finally took the lead on 55 minutes. A move off the rear of a scrum released number eight Evan Sutherland with Grant Anderson supporting before Brims and McIntosh linked to send right wing Gordie Macleod on a weaving run to the line. Brims' touchline conversion fell short.
The visitors crossed again on 14 minutes from time when possession from an opposition scrum released Sutherland on an untracked diagonal run to dot down for an unconverted try out wide.
The score piqued Highland – who had barely carried in opposition territory since the break – into a feisty riposte. A sparky attack required McIntosh to pull off a last-man tackle to deny Fijian centre Epi Vucaicea.
Irvine set up a tense finale when his 71st-minute penalty went in off the left upright. Caithness tackling, hitherto impeccable, became decidedly flaky as Highland sensed they could snatch an unlikely win.
The Greens, however, survived and came close to extending the margin when first Macleod and then Sutherland were hauled down just short of the line.
Highland: A. Hill, T. MacGowan, D. Ramsay, E. Vucaicea, E. Watson, C. Irvine, A. Stott, A. Beattie, K. Brown, J. Strachan, R. Temple, C. Aldam, R. MacLaughlin, R. Thomson, G. High. Replacements (all used): S. Anderson, K. Cameron and S. Stephen.
Caithness: B. McIntosh, G. Macleod, G. Poke, M. Nicolson, M. Oswald, L. Brims, G. Fryer, M. Nicolson, H. Coghill, T. Sutherland, J. Miller, A. Morris, G. Anderson, E. Sutherland, S. Campbell. Replacements (all used): P. Nicolson, G. and W. Mill.
Referee: T. Coutts.
