‘One of the best displays’ as Krakens get off to winning start in National Shield
Caithness Krakens got their National Shield campaign off to the perfect start at the weekend with a 39-12 win away to Peterhead.
Coach Mike Flavell is looking for his players to follow up what he rated as one of their best displays on his watch with a win in their second group match at home to Oban Lorne on Saturday. It has a noon kick-off at Millbank.
The Krakens had to show both defensive mettle and attacking brio to get the better of the north-east side at their home at Catto Park.
“They were a forward-orientated side with a big, powerful pack that presented a real physical challenge to us,” Flavell said. “They also had some useful backs and our defence had to absorb a lot of pressure.”
Flavell was delighted that his squad were involved for the first time this year in a 15-a-side contest against a side the Krakens will meet next season in Caledonia North League 1.
They were quickly out the blocks and within 15 minutes had run in two tries, both scored by number eight Emmie Smith.
After her second, converted by Carly Erridge, the home side regrouped and their forwards wrested control as the Krakens found their defence put under concerted pressure.
Peterhead did manage to find a way through to score a converted try.
Within a couple of minutes, the visitors responded with a try from winger Megan Douglas, which gave her side a 17-7 lead at the interval.
Against a tiring opposition pack, the Krakens managed to create more openings for their big runners.
There was a second try for Douglas, while Caitlin Harvey and Erridge also crossed. Erridge’s second conversion saw her side 34-7 ahead.
The icing was put on the cake with their last score, created by a clean line break by inside centre Karlyn Gemmill. The ball went through a couple of pairs of hands before scrum-half Aileen Simmonite’s angled cut took her to the line where she had enough momentum to ride a last-ditch tackle to touch down.
In the final action, a Peterhead wide move paid dividends as their winger crossed for an unconverted try.
Flavell said: “The pleasing thing about our defence was that they never went through us in the middle, with both their tries scored out wide.
“We have been working a lot on improving our line speed and our ruck speed and that is paying off.
“Peterhead were a really good test for us and they made us work hard to make the space to launch our attacks. It was one of the best displays that I’ve been involved in.”
The coach was also pleased with the versatile Devin Stuart’s first outing at outside centre. She was deployed there in the first half as regular incumbent Lauren Gunn is unavailable for the two remaining group games because of badminton commitments.
Oban Lorne, who play in West Division 1, opened their National Shield campaign with a 53-7 home victory over Howe of Fife.
Flavell said: “That is a bit of a statement so we’ll have to be at the top of our game against them.”