Krakens run in 14 tries against Fraserburgh as Harvey sets club scoring record
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Caithness Krakens posted a monster score in their opening pool game in the Scottish Women's Bowl on Saturday.
They ran in 14 tries in a 96-12 victory over Fraserburgh on a glorious spring day at Millbank.
The north-east outfit struggled throughout to cope with the pace and panache of a clutch of strike runners as well as being outgunned at the set-piece.
Full-back Caitlin Harvey and replacement Shannon Pasotti each ended the day with five tries apiece, with the others falling to Emmie Smith (2), Helen Richard and Donna Edwards.
The die was cast as early as 15 minutes by when the Krakens were three tries to the good.
Harvey opened the scoring with a trademark long-range run to the line before she was put in for her second by Ellie Anderson, who was making her senior debut.
Anderson – sister of the Greens' Grant and Marc – and fellow centre Justine Mackay then did the donkey work for number eight Emmie Smith to cross.
Caithness withstood sustained Fraserburgh pressure before Harvey finished off two lightning attacks to put her side 33-0 up.
The visitors were finally rewarded for their grit when Dana MacDonald grabbed a try in first-half stoppage time.
Soon after the resumption, the hosts pulled away with Harvey over for her fifth before Pasotti came on and bagged three tries in 15 minutes.
The visitors' cause was further hit when a second injury retiral left them to play the last quarter with 14.
Smith stormed clear to touch down only to be pulled back for not releasing after she had been grounded.
The number eight and captain was not to be denied and was credited with her second soon after Yvonne Ewan had burrowed over for Fraserburgh's second which was converted by Choe Taylor.
Pasotti crossed twice more before Richard breezed in and Edwards completed the rout after just having the legs to see off a pursuer.
All but one of the tries were goaled, with Harvey's four conversions giving her a club individual record points haul of 33 points.
The others were kicked by scrum half Megan Douglas, who missed the middle third of the game while being treated for an elbow knock.
Coach Mike Flavell was particularly pleased with some flowing passages of play, particularly in the first half, when they worked the ball into the wide channels. He was also impressed with their clinical execution of moves.
Flavell added: "The only criticism I would have is that they are not hitting the rucks and clearing out properly – Fraserburgh are not the most physical of teams and many others would have smashed us at ruck time."
Next up for the Krakens are Dundee Valkyries 2nds on Saturday.
Pasotti and Harvey are among those not available for the trip but Flavell hopes to welcome back centre Olivia Henderson, while Aberdeen-based Devin Stuart and Aiva Harper are set to join up with the squad in Dundee.
