Yellows defy the odds to knock Eagles off top spot
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Caithness Seconds beat the odds as they powered to a 34-22 win to knock Kinloss Eagles off the top of Caley North 3.
The form book pointed to a comfortable victory for the Moray men at Millbank on Saturday.
On their last outing, the Eagles had routed Turriff 70-5 on the back of the latter thumping the Yellows 64-19.
But they came unstuck in the face of a rollicking display by Cameron Boyd's outfit.
The grunt and grit in their pack combined with the pace and panache of their backs to post their first triumph of the season.
Two late tries for the visitors produced a much tighter winning margin than reflected in the run of play.
Kinloss's lack of a trained complement of front row players meant the scrums were uncontested.
The visitors were first to threaten, with their three Fijians figuring prominently.
Their number eight powerhouse John Valetiri barnstormed his way through only to lose the ball over the line.
Kinloss retained the upper hand and opened the scoring on five minutes when they worked an overload in the wide left channel to allow Martin Wilson to cross unopposed.
The Yellows almost responded in kind with a cracking move involving young backs Craig Cannop, Max Kennedy and Ruaridh Mackay.
Prop Ally Williams then went close before Russell Mill plunged over.
Midway through the half, home number eight Calum Clark put his side in front after he finished off a series of close-range sorties.
The lead lasted three minutes before Valeteri swatted away a couple of tacklers, Jonah Lomu-style, on a marauding run to the line.
Caithness turned down a couple of very kickable penalties in favour of the touchline near the interval.
Their gamble was rewarded when a five-metre lineout rumble splintered the opposing maul and Williams was able to saunter over without a glove being laid on him.
Jamie Mowat converted to allow his side to turn round 17-10 to the good.
The Yellows turned on the style on the resumption as they tightened up in defence and added bite to their attacks.
Clark was on hand to execute a last-man tackle to deny James Stark. Craig Chambers' electric break at the other end led to Cannop crossing on the hour mark.
The Yellows' dominance was reflected in further tries for Kennedy and replacement Will Mill, one improved by Mowat.
Kinloss salvaged a bit of pride with two late tries from centre James Stark, one converted by Wilson.
Yellows coach Cameron Boyd said: "The boys played really well.
"Going by the previous fixtures, we should have lost by more than 100 points – but our guys fronted up and I was really delighted about how we kept our shape.
"They were a big, physical team and looked to go straight through us but our attitude was spot-on from the kick-off."
The game was well handled by Ewen Scott who was refereeing his first competitive senior game since his playing career with Caithness was cut short because of a neck injury.
The Seconds are away on Saturday to Highland 3rd XV, whose 53-31 win at Turriff on Saturday allowed them to leapfrog Kinloss and take over top spot.
