RAF Lossiemouth 14, Orkney 10

Orkney travelled down to RAF Lossiemouth for an 11am kick off with the aim of not only gaining a win but also to get the 7pm boat back from Scrabster on Saturday night.  At least one of those goals was achieved.

Dave Shearer returned to the front row to join Derek and Erland, while the second row comprised Rob and Lee Thomson.  Stewart Spence and Brian Inkster were on the flanks with Steven Paterson getting his chance at number 8.  Roger Hall and Al Watson started as the halfbacks, the Trevor Spence and Scott Milne in the centre.  James Link and Glen Thomson were on the wings with Rodney at full back.  Sean ‘tattie’ Corrigal, joined Gary Coltherd and Raymond Moodie on the bench.

Orkney kicked off into the wind and were soon under pressure as Lossie tried to use the wind to their advantage.  Unfortunately for Orkney Roger Hall picked up an early wrist injury and had to leave the pitch.  Al switched to scrum half, Linky to stand off, Raymond came on in the centre and Scott moved out to the wing.  Soon after Lossie won a line out and drove through the middle to score their first try, converted to take a 7 – 0 lead.  Orkney played really well against the wind for the rest of the half, but were not rewarded for their efforts.  Erland Drever even had a try disallowed as the Lossie flanker indicated he had put a foot into touch with the ref and Lossie touch judge struggling to keep up with play.  Half time 7 – 0.

With the wind on their backs Orkney took the game to Lossie and were soon back on level terms after good driving from the forwards released the backs for Scott Milne to score a fine try.  Linky converted and soon added a penalty to give Orkney the lead 10 –7.

Orkney continued to press home their advantage and Linklater just off target with 2 drop goal attempts.  He then struck one low between the posts but bizarrely the ref said it had gone under and another score was disallowed.  As the game was entering the last 15 minutes Lossie were managing to secure more possession and drive up field.  From one of these drives Gary Coltherd put in a try saving tackle (his own words) and unfortunately broke his left arm in the process, he obviously had to leave the field and head for hospital. 

Orkney should have held on for the win but Lossie were not going to give up and from a penalty ran the ball and caught the Orkney defence sleeping, the covering tackle from Raymond was enough to ground the Lossie captain but he wasn’t held and managed to crawl the last 2 metres to the line.  Most referees would have awarded a penalty to Orkney for the double movement, but not on Saturday, the try was awarded and to rub salt into the wound the conversion from the touchline was successful.  14 – 10 to Lossie with only minutes to go.  Despite one last attack, Lossie held on. 

A very disappointing result given the manor of 3 crucial decisions that went against Orkney, but plus points from the game were the effort put in by every member of the squad, with just a wee bit of luck this would have been the win Orkney probably deserved.  Unfortunately the injury list grows longer but at least Gary was plastered in time to join the team bus for the homeward journey.  Captain Al Watson announced that Stewart Spence and Brian Inkster had shared the man of the match, and also would like to thank all those who made the effort to travel, some at very short notice. He also wishes Gary and the rest on the injury list a speedy recovery.

Next week Orkney are on the road again heading to St Andrews to play the high scoring students.  A very difficult game is anticipated to round off the first half of the league.