Stronger Orkney chase revenge at Thurso

Orkney vice-president Garry Coltherd feels his side will be better-equipped to face rivals Caithness in National 3 tomorrow following their defeat by the Greens earlier in the campaign.

The islanders suffered a 16-9 loss to the Thurso outfit when the sides last met at Pickaquoy in September, with Orkney making the trip to Millbank this weekend for the penultimate fixture of the year.

Orkney have enjoyed an improvement in form since and can leapfrog their sixth-placed hosts with a victory this weekend.

Coltherd said: “It was disappointing to lose to them at home but we will have a stronger team for this game – aside from our stand off James Linklater, who is out due to a rib injury.

“It was a sore one, with them being new to the league, while we had been there for a couple of years.

“Hopefully we can give them a run for their money. Their strength is in their forwards and scrum halves so hopefully we can take the game to them.

“We have a good travelling support going down for it.

“It was good to get back to winning ways against Perthsire last week. We got off to a good start, it was a hard and physical game but we came through it.”

Having already helped his side record one derby victory this season, Caithness skipper Marc Anderson hopes home advantage can help the Greens repeat the feat, having not lost at Millbank since a 38-27 defeat by Murrayfield Wanderers on September 22.

Anderson said: “It’s a derby fixture but it’s still another home game and we are looking to win every game we play on our own patch.

“Since the first two games we lost against Ardrossan Academicals and Murrayfield Wanderers we have played very well at home, so hopefully that continues, although I’m sure Orkney will have other ideas.

“They do the basics well, so the defensive part of our game will be especially important.”

Garry Coltherd: Orkney vice-president