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McGee optimistic about new season


By Matt Leslie

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CAITHNESS had a tough test at the pre-season mini-tournament in Inverness last Saturday but boss Tom McGee was pleased with his side’s display.

The Greens competed against home side Highland and Glasgow-based National League One side Cartha Queen’s Park in a competition that must have felt unusual to say the least.

Instead of the regulation 40 minutes each way, each game was reduced to two halves of 20 minutes so as not to put too much strain and physical tear on all players involved during the course of the day.

Greens lost their first match to Cartha 20-10 and later on were beaten by Highland 26-14. A 31-14 win over Cartha ensured Highland won the overall competition.

McGee said: “The first 20 minutes of the Cartha match was probably not us at our best. We were a bit edgy and we also found it tough to cope with the speed of the surface and Cartha’s physicality.

“We were up against a side two divisions above us but we were very nervy. The second 20 minutes saw us adapt to what we faced in the first half and we played much better.

“With Highland, the scoreline only tells half of the story because we were much better than we were against Cartha.

“I think they saw the Cartha match and underestimated us a bit. We were very tenacious in defence and our scrum was really good.

“Highland are a good side who play in a division higher than ourselves but we fronted up very well.

“We adapted to this match much better than we did for the Cartha one and we gave them a very hard game.”

A plus point for McGee was the emergence of promising youngster Jack MacLeod.

He added: “Jack is a talented back-row forward with a lot of potential. He’s come from our under-18 side and could have a very good future in the game if he keeps on progressing.

“He was excellent last Saturday and didn’t look out of place playing in the first team.”


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