Smith leads the way as Krakens score eight tries in first league victory
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Caithness enjoyed double joy on the road on Saturday in the club's first-ever jousts with Fraserburgh.
Pride of place goes to the Krakens, whose 48-26 success was their maiden victory in the Women's North Region League.
They recovered from their dawn departure and long journey with a strong start which saw them forge ahead with a try from Justine Mackay.
The hosts came back to lead 14-12 before a stirring multi-phase passage of play from their own 22 saw the Krakens cross again to secure a 17-14 lead at the interval.
The visitors, who included a guest from Moray, went on to run riot as they posted five unopposed tries in the next 30 minutes.
In a late flurry, Fraserburgh responded with two of their own.
Number eight Emmie Smith bagged a hat-trick of tries with the others falling to Aimee Curlis, Donna Edwards, Ashley McLean and Devon Stuart. Megan Douglas potted four conversions.
Fraserburgh tries came from Abby Perry, Isla Jack, Skye Smith and Yvonne Ewen, who added three conversions.
Krakens coach Mike Flavell said: "Though we ran in eight tries, they made it hard for us.
"It was nip and tuck in the first half but we stepped up a gear after the break and scored some really good tries."
The coach was impressed by the ball-carrying of the front five and the team's ability to sustain attacks through four or five phases.
He said: "We were more physical than we were in our last match versus Orkney and stuck to the game plan a lot better.
"We showed a lot of good character, especially when we were camped on our own line and kept them out."
He gave special plaudits to Smith.
"Every game, she puts in a tremendous shift – she tackles, she clears rucks, she runs in tries," he said.
Next up for the Krakens will be Shetland at home on November 6.
Caithness men's Seconds followed this up with a hard-earned 24-12 win at Bellslea Park.
The three tries-to-two success enabled Cameron Boyd's outfit to jump into second in the Caley North Regional 4.
While always ahead, the Yellows had little breathing space in a hotly contested affair.
Veteran scrum-half Russell Mill was the first over the whitewash when he exploited a chink in the hosts' goal-line defence.
Jamie Mowat converted but Liam Jordan then finished off a good spell for the Broch with a try, improved by Andy Kewly.
Caithness enjoyed a purple patch in the closing 10 minutes of the half which was rewarded with a close-in try for young hooker Duncan MacMillan, making his first start.
Mowat added the extras and a penalty to give his side a 17-7 interval advantage.
It was, however, very much game on after Jordan grabbed his second try 15 minutes after the resumption.
The home outfit pressed hard but they conceded again when a series of close-in sorties ended with prop John Elder crossing.
Mowat converted to complete the scoring.
The game ended on a sour note when a home player sustained a head knock as he tackled Caithness exile Tommy Sutherland, making a guest appearance for the Yellows.
The referee blew for no side several minutes early as an ambulance was called to take the casualty to hospital.
Coach Boyd was happy to note an improvement in his side's game management from the previous week's defeat to league leaders Dyce.
"I thought the backs played better and our defence was good throughout," he said.
"Everything we spoke about that didn't go so well from the previous week, we managed to rectify.
"It was a good contest and both teams probably left a couple of tries out there. The guys really dug in and deserved their victory."
On Saturday, the Yellow entertain Deeside. The match at Millbank has a 2pm kick-off.
