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Under-strength Greens drop to bottom place after second-half slump





Caithness and Mackie featured in a minor classic at Millbank in the first game of the season when the Greens prevailed 45-41. Here, Caithness winger Grant MacKay tries to get past Landen MacGregor. Picture: James Gunn
Caithness and Mackie featured in a minor classic at Millbank in the first game of the season when the Greens prevailed 45-41. Here, Caithness winger Grant MacKay tries to get past Landen MacGregor. Picture: James Gunn

The Greens this season have been reprising Groundhog Day on steroids in terms of how their league campaign is panning out.

The sequence of a cracking bonus-point win on home soil being followed by a thumping loss on the road was maintained on Saturday.

Caithness were well in the fight to trail by just 26-19 to North Police at the interval.

But their lack of a bench proved decisive as they ended up going down 54-24.

One difference from their previous three away cuffings is that their four tries earned them a match point.

That was not enough to prevent the police side from leapfrogging the Greens, who now sit bottom of the North Conference of Caley 1.

Once again injuries and work and other commitments forced head coach Cameron Boyd to field a shadow XV, with just Scott Mackay in reserve.

The first half was a fairly even affair with the Greens trading tries with their hosts before the latter scored their fourth to establish a seven-point advantage at the turnaround.

Caithness tries came from centres Max Kennedy and Douglas Webster and scrum-half and captain Euan MacDonald. Two of them were converted by stand-off Jamie Mowat.

The real damage was done in the third quarter when North Police ran in four converted tries.

The only response was a close-quarters touchdown from lock Dave McIntosh, his first score for the Firsts.

The visitors did well to keep their line unbreached in the closing 12 minutes, given they were left short-handed thanks to yellow cards shown to Webster and hooker Duncan McMillan.

Boyd said travelling with just 16 was a big factor in the second-half slump.

“Our pack were knackered and they took advantage to find space in behind us,” he said. “It was helped by some poor kicks from our 22 which they capitalised on.

“Credit is due to our guys for sticking to the task, and none of them asked to come off. But, subconsciously, it has an impact on their game knowing that they will be needed for the full 80 minutes.”

Boyd was not overly impressed with North Police. “I didn’t think they were anything special,” he said.

“They threw the ball about a bit and they have quite a good offloading game but I’d be quietly confident we can turn them over in the reverse fixture.”

One area where the Greens excelled was the scrum, where they regularly had the home pack in reverse gear.

Boyd praised Kennedy on his first outing at inside centre, saying: “He made 12 tackles and missed one and grabbed a try. I thought he had a fantastic game.”

He is impressed with how MacDonald has taken on the leadership of the Greens in the absence of injured skipper Cole Wilson.

He also singled out the displays of tighthead prop Dom Smith-Hanratty, blindside flanker Reece Mowat and Fraser McLennan, who made his debut on the left wing.

“It was a tough day but these guys are getting valuable experience and they are definitely learning from it,” Boyd said.

He is not unduly fazed by his side sliding to the bottom of the conference.

“It’s as tight as it has been for years, with just nine points separating Aberdeenshire at the top and us at the bottom,” Boyd said. “There are no easy games.”

The Greens will make their fourth trek along the A96 on Saturday, bound for Stonehaven for their return match against Mackie.

The teams featured in a minor classic at Millbank in the first game of the season when Caithness foiled a remarkable comeback from the visitors to score a try at the death to prevail 45-41.

Boyd should be able to call upon a stronger squad to travel. Available again are Hamish Coghill, Mark Nicolson, Ally Williams, Lachlan Jardine, Reece Coghill, Cameron Ryder and Gary Mackay.

Wilson remains sidelined, as do Scott Webster and Charlie Quinn, while Kevin Brims is still away on a work course.

Mackie’s 57-31 home victory over Ross Sutherland puts them in second spot, a point behind Aberdeenshire, who were idle on Saturday.

Highland Seconds’ third win on the spin, 32-19 at home to Ellon, puts them a further point away in third.

The Krakens are also on the road on Saturday as they head to Elgin to play Moray in the women’s Caley North League 2.

Having run up a 128-7 victory in the earlier clash between the sides in Thurso, Mike Flavell’s team will be aiming for another bonus win which would put them on the brink of landing the title.


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