Gutsy fightback but Greens lose out
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HILLFOOTS 32 - 14 CAITHNESS
CAITHNESS slumped to their third successive RBS Caledonian 1 defeat in Tillicoultry on Saturday.
The Greens looked in danger of being at the receiving end of a hiding after shipping 20 points without reply in the first half.
But they gamely fought back and the hosts were seriously rattled after conceding two converted tries.
They came close to losing the lead before steadying the ship with two tries of their own in the last 15 minutes.
Caithness struggled early on playing up the slope against opponents defending an unbeaten home record. Hillfoots drew first blood with a penalty from fly half Ali Page.
Page then converted a try from centre Andrew Hamilton who profited from a well-executed midfield switch.
Hillfoots drew further ahead thanks to a try from winger Kenny Paterson, which Page converted before adding a second penalty.
In the closing 10 minutes of the half, Caithness upped the tempo of their play and made serious inroads into opposition territory. The sea change continued after the break when the visitors scored two tries in the opening 15 minutes.
Wing Peter Nicolson claimed the first from a charge down and kick through, and number eight Evan Sutherland the second from a driven maul following a line-out.
Fly half Liam Brims converted both to take his side within six points of their opponents.
A marvellous break out from deep in their own half looked set to end in a third when play was halted for a forward pass near the Hillfoots line.
With the home prop, the former Boroughmuir and French club pro, Sandy Penman, yellow-carded, the contest appeared to be going Caithness’s way. But they were unable to capitalise on their man advantage and, on the prop’s return, Hillfoots scored a converted try from Craig Scott.
Near the end, Penman’s bullocking run took him over to clinch a win bonus point for his side. Page converted.
Caithness coach Donald MacIntosh is frustrated at his side’s inconsistency.
He said: “Once again, 30 minutes of cracking good rugby was negated by periods of indifferent play where our work rate was not good enough and Hillfoots were allowed to go through their moves with very little hindrance.
“But though we were again bedevilled by unavailability and late call-offs, the second half saw every one of the players contribute fully to the improved team performance.”
The Caithness man of the match was industrious scrum half Gordon Macleod while the game also saw the welcome return of loose-head prop Colin Smith.
Caithness: B. McIntosh, Y. Coghill, G. Poke, N. Foubister, P. Nicolson, L. Brims, G. Macleod, M. Nicolson, H. Coghill, T. Sutherland, J. Miller, D. Nicolson, M. Duffy, E. Sutherland, R. Coghill. Replacement used: C. Smith. Unused: R. Miller.
n Aberdeenshire continue to lead Caledonian League Division 1 after edging out city rivals Gordonians on Saturday.
Shire relied on two late tries to secure a 17-15 win at Countesswells.
Mackie Academy FPs meanwhile continued their good recent run with a 47-14 home victory over Glenrothes.
Caithness have no fixture tomorrow.
