Caithness 30 Glasgow Accies 23

Saturday 2nd October 2010

Millbank Park, Thurso

‘Late Disappointment in the North’


With normal time over and deep into injury time the Caithness fullback broke through the tiring Accies defence for a try that was converted to give them a four try bonus point victory over a plucky Accies side that had looked like winning despite having only 30% of the possession.

Caithness is a notoriously difficult place to win and Accies have only achieved that once in six visits. The pitch is narrow, short and sloping and it always seems to blow a gale. Having said that it is measurably better that it used to be as they have spent £100.000 putting in new drainage that has worked. The governing factor for this game was the stiff but mild breeze coming down the pitch from the South.

Another factor is the refereeing North of Perth. Referees tend to be inexperienced due to the lack of high level games available and Saturday’s referee was no exception but not the main factor that Accies lost this game. That was due to failing to gain enough ball to give their potentially dangerous backs an opportunity to demonstrate their scoring ability.

Accies kicked off down the slope with the wind at their back but they rarely made use of it, as they could not get possession. Nevertheless they still lead 13-5 at half time and the gap should have been wider.

In the 15th minute Ali McLaren kicked a penalty for a 3-0 lead. For the next 15 minutes it was a pretty turgid affair. Some cracking tackles went in from both sides but the game lacked fluency and became a bit stagnant. Caithness held onto the ball tenaciously but when they dropped it Accies thumped it down the field 60 or 70 yards to relieve the pressure.

In the 30th minute Caithness scored and it could only be described as grand larceny as the final pass of the movement was forward. Accies support complained but one wag in the crowd said “ sorry chap but we play Caithness rules up here”. They certainly do.

This was the signal to spark the game into life. Accies were awarded a penalty. Caithness complained and were marched back 10 metres and Ali McLaren was into range and knocked it over. 5-6

Next the Caithness No.5 was given a yellow card and Accies won their first clean lineout. Adam Taylor took it off the top, knocked it down to his scrum half Stephen O’Donnell, who passed to Ali Mclaren, a dummy and a sidestep and he was over the line for a try he converted himself. 3-13.

There was still time for a long distance penalty attempt that dropped short.

Half time 5-13.

This was a frustrating half for Accies for although they scrummaged well the lineout was a shambles. This is probably the lightest pack Accies have fielded for a number of seasons and they certainly came second best at the breakdown areas where Caithness were very quick to go to ground to ensure they gained possession.

Accies were fielding three new threequarters and they had all started well. Douglas Laidlaw from North Berwick is a strapping 19 year old with good hand and a solid defence and looks the part. Tom Cullen is a bustling winger with a low centre of gravity that makes him difficult to pull down and Oliver Ross is a more conventional

winger with a good turn of pace. It is probable that we will see one or more of them on a regular basis throughout the year.

Facing the strong wind in the second half the lead looked a bit vulnerable and Caithness were quickly into their stride. Within two minutes they had scored a highly controversial try in the right hand corner. The winger was awarded it despite all the Accies players saying that he was in touch. The local touch judge seemed to confirm that by putting his flag up then taking it down and the referee from some distance said it was a try.

10-13. Not the start Accies needed.

Undaunted by this set back Accies were starting to get possession and surged up to the 22 where they were awarded a scrum. The Caithness scrum half came offside and the referee signalled a penalty. Stephen O’Donnell cleverly used this advantage and simply ran in from 20 metres for a try under the posts to give Accies a ten-point lead at 10-20. McLaren converted.

With 15 minutes remaining Caithness got back into the game when their right-winger avoided a couple of tackles to score in the corner. The young stand off slotted a beautiful conversion from the touchline. 17-20.

Still against the elements Accies were getting some ball and from one raid Ali McLaren kicked another goal for 17-23.

With 10 minutes remaining a deluge of penalties against Accies allowed Caithness to score two more goals to bring the scores level. One more controversial incident was to come. Accies were penalised inside the Caithness 22 when it seemed that it should have gone the other way for diving over. This was thumped downfield and from a line out on the right the ball was passed along the line and the fullback created the extra man and the winning score. 30-23.

Under the circumstances a draw might have been a fair result but it was not to be.

It’s a long way back from Thurso when you lose.

Next week Aberdeenshire are the visitors to new Anniesland and Accies will be hoping for a better result to maintain their league position that is currently 4th.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAMES GUNN PHOTOGRAPHY

This article was originally posted on 4-Oct-2010, 17:04 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 5-Oct-2010, 20:37.