Two in a row for Krakens ahead of crunch home ties
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Caithness Krakens made it two away cup wins on the spin at the weekend after they returned with a 48-29 victory over Kirkcaldy.
It sets them up for two crunch home ties in the National Plate against Orkney Dragons on Sunday and group leaders Strathmore the following Saturday.
Mike Flavell's side travelled to Fife with 13, having been unable to call on the services of exiles – as they have regularly done on league business –due to the cup's strict registration rules.
Kirkcaldy also had a run of call-offs and had 14 players so it was agreed to play 13-a-side.
"It was a fairly attritional game which was generally played in the narrow channels," Flavell said.
"We were more physical than them. We were quicker to the breakdown and protected our ball very well.
"We also played the better rugby and our backs regularly made some decent line breaks."
Flavell reckoned his side were ahead on territory and possession in the first half and proved fitter in seeing out a bruising tussle which ended up 12-a-side.
The Krakens twice came from behind as the sides went in at the interval tied at 10-10.
The visitors dominated the third quarter as they forged 36-22 in front. Two further tries for the Krakens, either side one for the hosts, completed the scoring.
Emmie Smith, Nicola Mackay and Helen Richard all crossed twice for Caithness, with others scored by Lauren Gunn and Karlyn Bernard, who added four conversions.
Flavell lauded the display of flanker Mackay, who had two assists as well as her tries.
He also picked out fly-half/ winger Ellie Anderson for her work in defence and centre Gunn for her breaks and support play.
The game proved a memorable debut for 17-year-old Rhianna Mackay, who started on the wing and finished the game in the back row.
Flavell said: "They all had to play the whole game – it was a big shift and they stuck to their task really well."
He expects to have a full squad when they face familiar opponents in the form of the Dragons at Millbank on Sunday.
The islanders comfortably won both the early season North Region league games but the coach believes the gap between the sides has narrowed significantly since.
"We need to get our heads right and stick to the way we play. If we do, I think we've got a real chance," Flavell said.
The game kicks off at 1pm.
The other group match at the weekend saw Strathmore make it three wins out of three after defeating Edinburgh University 43-14 in Forfar.
In the plate competition, the winners of the three qualifying groups and the overall best runner-up meet in the semi-finals.
Dunfermline clinched the Caley 1 men's title in some style at McKane Park on Saturday.
Their 102-0 monstering of Aberdeen Wanderers in their final game saw them leapfrog Ellon to win the division by two points.
The west Fifers are promoted to the new National League Division 4.
Caithness finished fifth after a disappointing campaign which saw them win four, lose seven and draw one.
