Turriff try from last play is ‘heart-breaking’ for Yellows
Caithness Seconds suffered a gut-wrenching 26-22 defeat on their travels at the weekend.
They were leading 22-19 at Turriff when a furious onslaught mounted by the hosts yielded a last-play converted try.
The Yellows had pulled out all the stops to fulfil the Caley North 3 fixture, recruiting three Aberdeen-based players, including Caithness exile Kris Gove, in their 14-strong squad.
Turriff, who had 16, agreed to a 14-a-side game under the established lower-league protocols.
Caithness co-captain Ally Williams said: “It was a really physical battle. There were a lot of big carries and huge tackles and it was really competitive at the breakdown, with both sides turning over ball.
“We struggled throughout in the scrums but we dominated the lineout. I thought we really fronted up.”
Two tries and a conversion from Gove and a try each from the other two guest players had the Yellows clinging on to a three-point lead in the final minutes.
Williams said: “It was heart-breaking to lose from the last play of the game, but it had been coming.
“We had been under intense pressure defending our line for a few minutes and we did well holding out for as long as we did.
“I was really proud of the boys for the effort they put in. It was probably the best performance from a Caithness men’s team away from home for some time.”
He singled out the display of loose forward Angus Lapsley.
“He was our man of the match,” Williams said. “He was a demon at the breakdown where he turned over a lot of ball."
The Yellows’ next game is away to Skye on October 19.
Caithness Krakens, meanwhile, are looking to protect their 100 per cent record in the Caley North 2 women’s league when they travel to Turriff on Saturday.
