‘On a hiding to nothing’ – Greens missing 14 players for drubbing at Aberdeenshire
Caithness again featured in an 80-plus point game in their second outing in the north conference of Caledonian League 1.
But unfortunately for the Greens on Saturday, all 88 were scored by opponents Aberdeenshire.
They were ruthlessly dismantled by a rampant city outfit who fully exploited the inexperience and naivety in the visitors’ ranks.
Shire ran in 14 tries at Woodside as they feasted on a surfeit of possession and field position.
Just eight Greens featured in the 22-strong squad that pulled off an epic 45-41 win over Mackie the previous week.
By midweek, the lengthy call-off list caused coach Cameron Boyd to question if he would be able to fulfil the fixture.
But he and team manager Roddy Gray managed to cobble together a travelling squad.
The game provided a gruelling 80 minutes for what was a first start for tight head prop Dom Smith-Hanratty, while flanker Lachlan Jardine pitched up for his first touch of a rugby ball this season after a long stint working away.
Full back Gary Mackay answered the call to make his latest return from retirement while regular lock Kevin Brims turned out at inside centre. Exile Kris Gove also helped out to provide cover from the bench.
Shire showed enough to underline their title-challenging credentials as centre Mikey Mair and right winger Tom Watson each grabbed three tries and replacement Aaron Wright bagged two.
The others fell to left winger Scott McNeil; number eight and former Green Jack Sibbald; scrum half Finlay Smeaton; fly half Paul Harrow; loose head Lewis Emslie; and full back Andy Wilson, who added nine conversions.
“It was a real battle getting a team to travel,” said Boyd. “It’s by far the toughest time I’ve experienced in my time with the Firsts.
“I reckon we were missing 14 guys for one reason or another.”
The coach was full of praise for those who stepped up late on to ensure the fixture could be fulfilled.
Boyd said his side played second fiddle throughout with their only real scoring opportunity being a cracking line break from centre Charlie Quinn which fizzled out through lack of early support.
“We were on a hiding to nothing given we had so many changes and so many who haven’t been at training.
“We missed too many one-on-one tackles and struggled to generate any real go-forward or get into our normal patterns and systems.”
It doesn’t get any easier on Saturday when the Greens entertain Highland Seconds, who are expected to fight it out for top spot with Shire.
He expects a clutch of regulars back for the game at Millbank, which kicks off at 3pm.
In the other Conference clash, Mackie won 60-14 at Ellon.
