Third defeat for Krakens but ‘performance was 100% better’
The Krakens remain joint bottom of Caley North 1 after sustaining their third successive defeat.
While the Caithness women’s team failed to break their duck versus Lochaber, coach Mike Flavell was encouraged by a much-improved performance at Banavie.
A single score separated the teams until the final 10 minutes when t he hosts scored two tries without reply to prevail 29-12.
The Krakens, last year’s Caley North 2 champions, were boosted by the first appearances of the season by Emmie Barter and Carly Erridge but a handful of unavailable regulars left their 18-strong squad short in some departments.
The back division had an unfamiliar look, with Caitlin Harvey at stand-off and Barter at outside centre, while the versatile Devin Stuart was fielded at flanker.
The early stages looked promising for Flavell’s team as they enjoyed lengthy spells of possession.
A cycle of quickly won ruck ball climaxed with Barter being set free to step past the last defender to touch down. Erridge added the extras.
Lochaber recovered, with the second quarter largely played in opposition territory. Booming kicks from their full-back Loren Christie regularly won them attacking platforms and these produced two tries which she converted to give them a 14-7 lead at half-time.
Christie added three points after kicking a penalty when a Caithness player strayed offside soon after the resumption.
The Krakens responded soon after with a Stuart try which followed a multi-phase sequence that created an overlap for the flanker to exploit.
Flavell believed his side were then well placed to go on to win the game.
“We then had a bit of momentum and I thought we would push on from there,” he said.
“It was very frustrating that we had three tries disallowed. Aileen [Simmonite] was over the line but she was adjudged to have been held up, and Carly and Caitlin both crossed but were called back for having put a foot in touch.”
The Krakens were pressing hard in the home 22 with 10 minutes to go when they coughed up possession and a kick from Christie sparked a sequence which ended with her side’s third converted try to make it 24-12.
Lochaber finished the stronger, with a further try late on sealing their victory.
Flavell said: “We only had three subs, which meant we could not replace a few of the girls who were out on their feet. They were knackered.
“I thought it was a really decent overall performance by us, with the late tries giving a bit of gloss to the final scoreline.”
The coach felt the battling display by his players helped atone for their shortcomings in the preceding defeats to Aberdeenshire Quines and Highland.
“Saturday was about getting a bit of pride back in wearing the jersey and I think we definitely did that,” he said. “The performance was 100 per cent better.
“I think we got to grips with the speed of the game and the physicality and we kept hold of the ball for long periods.”
The Krakens’ next outing is at home to Highland on Saturday, October 25, when they will seek to prove that the 102-5 shellacking in Inverness last month was an aberration.
Highland continued their high-scoring feats when they thumped Craig Dunain 83-10 in Inverness. Craig Dunain and Caithness share joint bottom spot, on one point.
The Quines were awarded a 28-0 victory over Shetland after the islanders failed to make the trip.