Caithness RFC vs Aberdeen University

I caught most of the 2nd half of the Caithness vs Aberdeen Univetsity match and arrived when it was 17-7 to the Greens (3 tries to 1). The students looked dangerous on the break with some fast backs. The game was swinging back and forth from one end to the other and the students ghosted through the Caithness defence to score a converted try.

With only 3 points separating the teams, the home support was getting very edgy, but Evan Sutherland saved the day with a clean break in the last minute and a swan dive over the line.

It was the first game with the Greens new kit and I snapped the team and three of the four main sponsors (Comm Bar, Norscot, Dunnett's Transport & Highland Travel Inns Ltd), 45 mins before kick-off.

All the results from lots of sport in Thurso today

Lots of sport in Thurso this afternoon. I snapped the action at the following matches;

Caithness RFC U16s vs Ross-Sutherland (22-22)
Caithness RFC vs Aberdeen University (24-14)
Thurso vs Halkirk Utd (0-3)

The U16s were up against some very big lads from Ross Sutherland, but got stuck in and came away with a fighting draw. I only watched about 25 mins, but was impressed with the overall standard and commitment from both teams.

The senior team made heavy weather of the match and were only 17-14 in front with one minute to go - before Evan Sutherland clinched a try and a vital bonus point to lift the team off the bottom of the league. The sigh of relief from the crowd could be heard on the other side of town!

The team were wearing their new kit for the first time. - sponsored by the Comm Bar, Norscot, Dunnett's Transport and Highland Travel Inns Ltd (The Weigh Inn & Ferry Inn).

Halkirk had a very comfortable game against Thurso in front of a large crowd at the Dammies. Chris Sutherland and Martin Banks scored in the first half and Martin scored again with 10 mins to go. Thurso sub Derrick Shearer was sent off mid-way through the 2nd half after sending Martin Banks about 4 feet in the air with a lunging tackle on the edge of the box.

The Wick Academy management team was watching as the Scorries had no match today.

Riding Club Winter Showing Bonanza

The Caithness Riding Club held their Blargoans sponsored winter showing bonanza over the weekend in the Halkirk indoor riding school. I snapped the winners of the working hunter section this afternoon.

Overall champion was Bridget Holt on Meg and reserve champion was Hayley Florence on Crackerjack.

Caithness landscapes

A  cracking sky over Thurso last Saturday



A deep orange sunset over the Caithness hills on Monday at 5pm




A silouhette of Morven, the highest hill in Caithness - taken from Harpsdale hill, Halkirk



Halkirk Utd vs Golspie - cup final

Halkirk Utd beat Golspie Sutherland 2-1 in the North Caledonian cup in Brora today in perfect weather. Golspie took the lead early in the first half with a strong low sun behind them and this seemed to affect the Halkirk defence.  A scrappy first half ended 1-0 with hardly any goal attempts from either side. Halkirk took control early in the second half and a quick-fire double from Chris Sutherland settled the match.

The Golspie keeper had a couple of cracking full stretch saves to keep the score down. Golspie had a player sent off mid-way through the 2nd half as the game started to turn ugly and the yellow cards were flying around.

A first cup win for new manager Jock MacKay.

Halkirk Utd vs Muir of Ord Rovers

Halkirk Utd beat Muir of Ord Rovers 3-1 today at the Recreation Park. Chris Sutherland scored 2 in the first half and Alan Larnach got the 3rd midway through the 2nd half (see 2nd pic). Rovers pulled one back with 15 mins left.  There were plenty of bookings and Rovers had a player sent off early in the 2nd half.

Halkirk team:
1 - G Williamson
2 - G Sinclair
3 - S Florence
4 - A Sinclair
5 - C Davidson
6 - G Henderson
7 - A Larnach
8 - M Bremner
9 - C Sutherland
10 - G MacNab
11 - N McKenzie
Subs
12 - J Halliday (used)
14 - Martyn Cook (used)
15 - C Sinclair
16 - J Howden

Thurso lost 1-0 away to Alness. Golspie beat Clach 0-3. Dingwall beat Balintore 4-1.

Wick beat Nairn County 5-3 in Wick. I didn't go to the game.

Caithness RFC vs Mackie Academy FP

Caithness lost to Mackie Academy FP at Millbank today 7-25. Evan Sutherland (who travelled up from Edinburgh in the morning) scored an early try which was converted by Liam Brims and the Greens were well on top for most of the first half. Mackie converted 2 penalties and got a converted try right on half-time (7-13). I left midway through the 2nd half with Mackie on top but with no more points on the board.

Grant Anderson played his first game after a long layoff with an injury.

Caithness RFC team:
1 - Sinclair Dunnett
2 - Hamish Coghill
3 - Tommy Sutherland
4 - John Miller
5 - Andy Morris
6 - Reece Coghill
7 - Micahel Duffy
8 - Evan Sutherland
9 - Gordon MacLeod
10 - Liam Brims
11 - Jamie MacDonald
12 - Graham Poke
13 - Norman Foubister
14 - Craig Spargo
15 - Martin Oswald
16 - Grant Anderson
17 - Roddy Gray
18 - Peter Nicolson

With five defeats in 8 games, the Greens are second bottom in the league, only 1 point above Aberdeen University.

The other results in the league can be seen via the link;

http://www.scottishrugby.org/community/index.php?option=com_joomleague&func=showResultsRank&p=303&Itemid=789