Krakens set new record with crushing victory over Valkyries
Caithness Krakens racked up a cricket score in their National Plate women's qualifying group opener.
They ran in 18 tries in what was for the neutral an unedifying mismatch against Dundee Valkyries 2nd XV at Millbank.
Number eight Emmy Smith claimed six touchdowns but was outscored by Carly Erridge's individual record haul of 36 points.
Saturday's 116-0 thrashing supplanted their previous highest win, their 78-17 Caley North 2 victory over newcomers Moray in September.
The Krakens fielded their strongest squad of the season, with Donna Edwards and Aileen Simmonite back after recovering from a fractured cheekbone and broken wrist respectively.
They also welcomed back Caitlin Harvey for her first competitive outing after a prolonged spell out injured.
From the kick-off, the home side established a vice-like grip on the game.
Other try-scorers were Nicola Mackay, Lauren Gunn (2), Karlyn Bernard, Harvey, Abbie Gunn, Edwards, Justine Mackay (2), Olivia Henderson and Erridge (2). Erridge added 13 conversions.
Krakens coach Mike Flavell said: "They [the Valkyries] stuck in and never gave up but they struggled to contain us.
"It was a very good performance all round. We monopolised possession and I can think of just one occasion when they got into our 22."
Flavell believes that at development level there should be a limit on the number of points a team can score before "the game is called".
The coach was happy with the set-piece and with the execution of their attacks.
He said: "We set out to play a less collision-based game and that worked out well.
"We spread our forwards across the field and tried to get them to stay in zones.
"When we broke their lines, we had support runners and once we got in between them I thought we worked the three-versus-twos and two-versus-ones very well."
Next up in the National Plate for the Krakens are Bannockburn away on Saturday.
Lauren Gunn and Helen Richard are unavailable but they are able to call on the services of exiles Kirsty Robertson and Emily Flavell.
Bannockburn started their campaign with a 45-0 defeat away to Lochaber on Sunday.
The Fort William outfit are away to the Valkyries on Sunday.
