ORKNEY 10, STRATHMORE 18

A CONVERTED try from Adam Towrie right out of the top drawer on the stroke of half time, followed by an early second half penalty from Roger Hall, pulled Orkney back into this tight and tense clash at Picky after Strathmore had built a lead through two penalties and an unconverted try. However, too many knock-ons and handling errors stopped Orkney from overhauling the visitors’ 11-10 margin as Strathmore’s solid black line of defence held out against everything they could throw at them. In the end it was Strathmore who extended their lead, through a converted try midway through the second half, and they could spend the night in Orkney celebrating what could be a valuable win at the end of the season.

Orkney had an early attack with Roger Hall, Al Watson and Glen McLellan linking well after a lineout, but a knock-on spoiled the move. Sustained Strathmore pressure ten minutes into the match saw Orkney defend well, the returning Glen Thomson kicking clear from the Orkney line. It was a Strathmore penalty in the 19th minute, slotted by Mike Bruce that broke the deadlock. Orkney had another attack, with Edward Russell running into the Strathmore 22, but the visitors regained possession and kicked clear. In the 23rd minute it was Strathmore winger Gary Black on a great solo run up the left who went over for the opening try of the game, converted by Mike Bruce. 8-0. Glen Thomson had a break on the left, but was well covered by the Strathmore defence. Garry Burton took a clatter as Strathmore gave away a penalty outside their 22, and soon after was off after another knock – clutching his ribs – with Danny Bain on for him. Mike Bruce was on the scoresheet  with another penalty just after the half-hour, and it looked ominous for Orkney as their efforts towards the end of the half were not coming off. Roger Hall was almost through, but a Strathmore player managed to get a handful of his shirt.

Then, just as it seemed Orkney would turn round pointless, Andy McGill got the ball to Adam Towrie on the left wing. The Sanday Flyer set off for what must be one of the best individual tries seen at Pickaquoy for some time, and certainly one of the most uplifting, handing off three opponents on the way up the touchline and dancing past a fourth on his way to dive under the posts. Roger Hall’s conversion closed the gap to 11-7, to the delight and relief of the 100 or so home fans on the touchline. Into the second half, and early action saw a great kick by Orkney captain Al Watson to give his side a lineout five metres from the Strathmore line. Orkney won the ball, but a clash of home players gave Strathmore Scrum put in. It went against the head and the ball came out to Danny Bain who tried to link with Raymond Moodie. The move broke down but Orkney had a penalty and Roger Hall kicked straight and true to bring Orkney to within a point of Strathmore. 11-10. That, though, would be Orkney’s final points, as a tight and solid second half performance saw Strathmore repel Orkney’s challenge, and the home side make too many handling errors as they went forward. They also gave away numerous penalties, with Orcadian referee Mervyn Drever sharp with his whistle throughout, and it was from one of these that the battering ram that was Strathmore substitute Jason Leslie went over, with Mike Bruce again adding the kick.

The final score leaves Orkney and Strathmore tied on nine points each, but Orkney, who travel away to Kinross this weekend, have a superior points difference. Orkney’s man of the match award was shared between Steven Paterson and try-scorer Adam Towrie.