Krakens through to last four in National Shield after dramatic comeback
The Krakens survived a fraught, nerve-tingling encounter at Millbank to secure a spot in the last four of the National Shield.
Trailing Broughton by 12 points with a couple of minutes remaining in Sunday’s tie, there seemed no way back for Mike Flavell’s team.
But they contrived to make up the deficit thanks to a converted try from Keira Nellies and one wide out left at the death from Caitlin Harvey.
That tied the scores at 26-26 and precipitated extra time.
The additional 20 minutes proved scoreless, with the home side progressing thanks to having scored four tries in regulation play against Broughton’s three.
The Edinburgh side are the Midlands/East Division 1 champions. Coached by Thurso exile Lorna Murdoch, their punchy pack was complemented by a back division full of pace and guile.
Caithness were on top for the opening 10 minutes and took the lead when number eight Emmie Smith made the initial inroads before flanker Helen Richard seized on a loose ball to plunge over. Winger Carly Erridge landed the extras.
Within two minutes, the visitors scored with their first serious attack. Hooker Helen Lyon fed Erin Ramage and the all-action centre picked the perfect line to ghost over.
Second-row Vicki Anderson converted.
Broughton went on to dominate most of the rest of the half. The pressure forced a succession of penalties, which Anderson punished with three successful attempts on goal.
Broughton increased their advantage on 44 minutes.
Murdoch put Erin Ramage in space and she freed Rowan Ramage, with the winger squeezing in at the left corner. Murdoch went off injured shortly afterwards.
The momentum swung back in favour of the Krakens with lock Holly Trick, prop Shauna Malcolm and flanker Nicola Mackay showing up well with powerful carries and their backs starting to get opportunities to shine in attack.
They struck back when a midfield charge from replacement Jacqui Barclay established prime field position. A resultant penalty was run and Richard found a chink in the defence to power over for a try.
Erridge converted to reduce the leeway to 14-21.
Broughton drew further ahead on 59 minutes when they chose to run an offside penalty in front of the opposition posts.
The ball was moved to replacement front-rower Kirsty Fraser and she muscled her way over the line.
Caithness were now facing the end of their dream of a second successive trip to Murrayfield.
Bookies would have stopped taking bets on the outcome as the game entered its final stages.
A minute from time, a short penalty was run and Nellies forced her away over the line. Erridge converted.
From the restart, the Krakens regained possession and Harvey was sent sprinting down the right touchline, only to be floored by the last defender.
Jacqui Kerr was yellow-carded.
Three minutes into injury time, referee Ewan Scott intimated the next stoppage would signal no side. A Caithness penalty was run and Harvey sensed a gap and duly hurtled through it to touch down near the left touch flag.
The conversion was missed to leave the sides tied at 26-all.
The extra 20 minutes saw two exhausted teams locked in a battle of attrition.
Caithness could not exploit Kerr’s absence in the first 10 minutes of extra time.
Likewise, the visitors were unable to capitalise on the yellow card shown to Devin Stuart for a high tackle just after the second interval.
Having earlier referred to the rulebook on his mobile, Mr Scott declared the Krakens the winners by virtue of having scored one more try.
Afterwards, coach Flavell was full of praise for Broughton who he said were easily the best side they have faced this season.
“Their backs were very good and moved the ball to the edge well and really challenged us,” he said.
“Our defensive line could have been better but we scrambled really well and managed to shut down most of their attacks and also pressurised them into making mistakes.
“I thought we let them into the game by giving away too many penalties.”
Flavell was happy with the team’s display in the set-piece and was also pleased with the impact of his bench.
“For nearly all of the second half of extra time, we were playing with 14 and we held out,” he said. “They had to dig in and it really showed the spirit that we have in the squad.”
Murdoch was returning to Thurso where she started playing rugby as a mini.
She said: “We should have capitalised on the opportunities we had but the Caithness defence was non-stop throughout the game.
“If they play like that in the semi, I’m sure they have nothing to fear.”
Murdoch, who went off with a sprained ankle, revealed that it was to be her last game and that she is also giving up her coaching duties.
“It’s maybe appropriate to end my career in Thurso as that is where it started,” she added.
The Krakens have a tough nut to crack in their quest to make a second successive appearance at the end-of-season showpiece at Murrayfield. They have been drawn away to face Greenock Wanderers in the National Shield semi-final on Sunday, April 6.
Wigtownshire host Ayr in the other National Shield semi. Wigtownshire thrashed Highland 79-19 in their quarter-final, while Ayr defeated Oban Lorne 31-12.