Krakens through to quarter-finals after gritty display in Fife
Caithness Krakens booked their place in the quarter-finals of the National Shield with a gritty 31-7 win away to first-time opponents Howe Harlequins.
Their third successive bonus-point victory ensured they topped Pool C to earn a home tie in the last eight. They will play the runners-up in Pool D, which still has two games outstanding, with Broughton looking the most likely visitors to Millbank.
Mike Flavell’s 17-strong squad arrived at Cupar on Saturday to find they were playing on a pitch behind Bell Baxter High School with a fearsome slope running between the posts.
Howe, who finished fourth in Caley Midlands/East League 1, included several former youth internationalists, with Nicola Howat having gone on to win a clutch of senior caps between 2018 and 2022.
The former Bell Baxter pupil, who also played for Sale Sharks, was a loosehead prop and lock for Scotland but has been playing inside centre since returning to her home-town club.
Playing uphill, the Krakens enjoyed a lively opening with Emmie Smith, redeployed to inside centre, almost crossing.
They then had to defend for their lives as Harlequins turned the screw and duly opened the scoring on 17 minutes. Hooker Lisa Croniken touched down near the posts, with number eight Phoebe Saunders adding the extras.
Back came Caithness with strong pressure in the run-up to the interval yielding an unconverted try from Smith.
They kept a stranglehold of possession and territory after the break with Smith’s second try giving them a lead they never thereafter looked like losing.
Having won the forward battle, they started to exploit holes appearing in the Harlequins’ defence with further tries from Devin Stuart, Holly Trick and Caitlin Harvey putting them out of sight. Carly Erridge weighed in with three conversions.
Coach Flavell said: “Howe had a good mix of newbies and some older, experienced players. They were lively at the breakdown and protected their ball very well.”
Of his own side, he said: “We wanted to take them on up front. We wanted a physical battle and everyone put in big shifts.
“Our line speed was also much improved. A couple were limping a bit but nobody wanted to come off.”
Flavell highlighted the displays of Smith and Karlyn Gemmill, who were playing out of position at centre and scrum-half respectively, and the hour-long stint by hard-working prop Jacqui Barclay.
Number eight Lara Campbell (dead leg) and stand-off Caitlin Harvey (pulled calf) have time to recover before the quarter-final.
While set for Sunday, March 23, Flavell is looking for it to be rescheduled to the previous day.
Oban Lorne qualified as runners-up after pummelling Peterhead 73-0. Oban will play the winners of Pool D.
In the other quarter-finals, Wigtownshire host Highland and Greenock Wanderers play Grangemouth Stags.