Uncertainty over relegation issue ahead of Greens’ final game
The Greens are none the wiser as to whether they would get relegated were they to finish bottom of the Caledonia 1 North Conference.
The position was not made any clearer by a cryptic updated response from Scottish Rugby when asked about the make-up of Caley 1 in the latest restructuring of the pyramid system.
Caithness go into the final game of the conference against North Police at Millbank on Saturday five points better off than their bottom-placed opponents, who were beaten 31-7 at home by Ross Sutherland last Saturday.
The service side would need to record a bonus-point victory and deny their hosts any match points to leapfrog them, on the strength of their better points difference.
Head coach Cameron Boyd says it remains unclear how many teams will make up the conference next season. But he is calling on his squad to settle any doubts about their continued place in Caley 1 on the park.
He said: “We’ve not heard anything concrete about the restructuring or what will happen to the team that finishes bottom of the North Conference but I am backing us to not make it an issue for us.”
Asked to clarify the position regarding relegation from Caley 1, Scottish Rugby earlier this week stated: “Normally, any vacancy arising shall be filled by an additional club being promoted before one fewer is relegated.
“In the event of an additional club requiring to be promoted from a regional-based competition, the additional club shall normally be promoted from the withdrawing club’s region.
“However, there is scope for the Competitions Committee to use discretion to decide on matters not provided for in the Rules and Regulations and to take appropriate action which could be in relation to promotion and relegation.”
Boyd said the squad has prepared well for the encounter with North Police.
“The boys are really looking forward to the game,” he said. “They’ve raised the intensity at training over the last couple of weeks and are really driving themselves.
“The focus is, as always, on producing a performance at Millbank and being accurate.”
The game has come just too early for back-rower Reece Coghill, who has been recuperating from a fractured fibula, while backs Charlie Quinn and Cameron Ryder are ruled out with long-term injuries.
The match kicks off at 3pm.
At the same time, Caithness 2nd XV will play a Caley North 3 double-header versus Huntly.