Orkney 72, Crieff and Strathearn 7

Orkney returned to winning ways with a comprehensive demolition job over Crieff and Strathearn.
The result was never really in doubt once those who turned up to watch learned that the visitors had only been able to muster 13 players willing to make the trip north, and had been forced to co-opt a couple of willing Orkney players – in the shape of Gary Coltherd and Kenneth Kent – to make up the numbers and allow the game to take place at all.
Crieff captain Cammy Kennedy confirmed it was the long trip on a host of cry-offs which had led to this unsatisfactory state of affairs.
All of which was a pity, because going into the game, Crieff and Orkney had both won two of their four games, the visitors two points ahead in the league due to bonus points won.
However, as the old sporting adage goes, you can only beat what’s put in front of you.
But before the action got underway, there was a perfectly observed minute’s silence in memory of 17-year-old Darren Norquoy, who died in a car crash on the Kirkwall to Dounby road, near the Merkister junction.
Once the action got underway, Orkney suffered an early setback, with Adam Towrie being forced out of the action with a nasty looking cut about an eye after being tackled.
However, the home side were in front inside five minutes.
Orkney’s forwards turned the ball over in a scrum and fed it out to Glen McLellan who chipped through.
James Linklater picked the ball up, and as he was tackled fed hooker Derek Sutherland, who was up in support.
Linklater missed the kick, but it wasn’t long before he would get another chance – this time from under the posts - as McLellan went over after a good run by captain and stand-off Al Watson.
This made the score 12-0, and already most of those on the sidelines were contemplating a cricket score.
However, it was Crieff who had the chance to score next, following a comedy of errors. Stand off Dave Lyall should have scored after he was first to the ball following a fly hack, but with the line beckoning, he contrived to knock-on as he was picking up.
However, the referee had missed a blatant knock-on 50 yards back up the field, which meant the chance should never have happened.
Orkney were quickly back on the attack, with a lovely jinking run from Kevin Sinclair which ended with an infringement and a penalty to the visitors.
The lead was extended soon after thanks to a good burst by McLellan, who was having no problems finding his way through a weak Crieff back line. He fed Andy McGill before the ball was played out wide to Glen Thomson, who went over.
Thomson then added his second try of the afternoon to extend the lead to 22-0 thanks to quick ball out wide.
Linklater converted this try and after 28 minutes it was 24-0 and the game was being played exclusively in the Crieff half.
Credit to the visitors’ defence then that in the remaining 12 minutes of the half, there was no further score.
However, it didn’t take Orkney long to get over the line again after the second half got underway, a fine individual effort by Hall, who took a quick tap penalty and darted over.
With Linklater on the sidelines, the scrum half attempted what looked like an easy conversion, but sliced wildly.
Andy McGill extended the lead to 34-0 when he found himself in support of McLellan, who once again had little difficulty slicing his way through the Crieff back line.
This time, Hall made a much better job of a more difficult kick to add the extra points.
Steven Paterson was next over the line, after a break by Al Watson had been stopped a yard shy, Hall again adding the two points and then it was outside centre Trevor Spence’s turn to celebrate.
He capitalised after Crieff had attempted to break from a quickly taken long throw. Spence intercepted an attempted chip and returned the ball with interest. 48-0.
Crieff then enjoyed their best spell of the game and were rewarded with a try in the left corner – scored by none other than Gary Coltherd.
That was as good as it got, as Glen Thomson then added his third try of the afternoon to extend the lead to 53-7.
The next try came after the forwards had won a scrum against the head, Ed Russell breaking through and feeding Hall on the overlap.
Linklater, back on the pitch, made it 60-7 with ten minutes to go.
That was enough time for Orkney to add another two tries, the first from Trevor Spence, benefiting from the benevolence of Glen McLellan, who could have quite easily scored himself.
The final score of the afternoon came from McLellan, and was probably the best of the afternoon, coming at the end of a good series of passes, making the final score 72-7.
Orkney: E. Drever, D. Sutherland, R. Thomson, D. Robb, S. Paterson, K. Sinclair, E. Russell, A. McGill, R. Hall, A. Watson, G. McLellan, T. Spence, A. Towrie, G. Thomson, J. Linklater. Replacements: R. Foubister, L. Thomson, D. Shearer.
Crieff and Strathearn: B. Kerr, S. Horen, F. Vidal, N. Ramsay, A. Webster, S. Adam, A. Webster, J. Alsop. C. Kennedy, D. Lyall, R. Coburn, J. Coffee, S. Guntley, C. Wishart. Guest players: G. Coltherd, K. Kent.
Stuart Laundy