Last Saturday a fairly changed Orkney team travelled to Lossiemouth to take on the RAF side in what was sure to be the toughest test for the Islanders so far in the their league campaign.   Veteran Rodney Spence was back in the side for the first time this season after a lengthy lay off due to injury, this time playing at outside centre.  It should be noted that it was Rodney’s 43rd birthday on Saturday and he was playing in his 26th season for the Orkney 1st XV, which surely must be a record!  Colin Risbridger was making his debut for the 1st XV playing on the wing, coming in for Adam Towrie who was unavailable due to commitments at home.  Lee Thomson got his first start of the season after Stewart Spence pulled out with a damaged shoulder sustained at training on Thursday.  John Deerness was making a welcome return to the 1st XV after being away at Uni, coming onto the bench for Alan Pirie and Callum Rendall joined him on the bench coming in at the last minute for Andrew Milne who pulled his hamstring in training.

Orkney, playing into the very strong wind in the first half couldn’t have got off to a better start, with a sweeping move from the left to the right releasing Colin Risbridger to outstrip the defence and score in the corner after about 5 minutes of play, a great start to his debut for the Westray player.  The wind pushed James Linklater’s conversion attempt wide.  About 2 minutes later, Glen McLellan stole the ball form his opposite number in a tackle and released it to prolific try scorer Al Watson, who brushed off a couple of poor tackles and went in under the posts.  James Linklater converted.  Andy McGill rounded of another good spell of continuity bursting through the middle of the field to out pace the defence and score under the posts. Again James Linklater converted.  Colin “Rizzy” Risbridger wasn’t finished yet and picked an interception pass up off his toes to burst through and beat the cover defence to score again under the posts.  James Linklater was on target again for the extra points.  Not even 30 minutes gone, a bonus point secured and you would be expecting the Islanders to run away with it, but it was not to be the case.  The RAF team picked themselves up from the next kick off and immediately put Orkney under pressure, recycling the ball well down the right side to drive over for a score, which was superbly converted in very windy conditions.  Orkney’s kick off didn’t go 10 and from the resulting scrum in the middle of the pitch, the No. 8 picked up, went right, passing to his scrum half, who made good yards before passing to the Fullback who scored out to the right again.  This time the conversion was narrowly missed.  This stunned the Orkney side back into action and Al Watson, not to be outdone by debutant Risbridger, finished off a period of good continuity and recycling to loop around the left wing, receive a pass and cross for his second try.  Half time score 31 – 12 in favour of Orkney.

The second half was a completely different kettle of fish with a screaming wind behind the islanders, the intention was to play the game in the oppositions half for as long as possible.  It was not to be as easy as that though, with the home side controlling long periods of play and pinning the Orcadians back on their line for the first 10 minutes of the half.  It’s often the case that it’s much easier to play with the wind on your face than on your back as it make passing much more difficult.  This was very evident and a number of the Orkney moves broke down before they got going due to poor passing, not helped by the conditions. The Lineouts were remarkably good considering the conditions and Orkney won most of their ball cleanly and even managed to pilfer a few of the RAF’s put-ins.  The home side continued to drive their way up the pitch at every available opportunity and rounded off a lengthy period of possession with a try from a quick penalty.  The conversion was missed.  Again this seemed to focus the Orkney side who raised their game again to work their way back into the opposition 22.  A number of penalties were given away by the home forwards for killing the ball, warranting the ref to a last warning to the offending prop.  Orkney continued to press and eventually after pressurising the home side as they tried to run the ball from their line, Kevin Spence grabbed an interception pass and showed good strength to get over the line and ground the ball for his first try for the 1st XV.  Well done Kev, a well deserved try and not surprising that you had to get the ball from a member of the opposition for the score as you have been spurned by your team mates on a number of occasions this year so far!  John Deerness stood up and slotted the conversion, which turned out to be the last act of the match.  The final score was 38 – 17 in favour of Orkney, who are now sitting top of the league with a game in hand.  Man of the match on his debut was a delighted Colin Risbridger, who piped the ever present Kevin Pepper to the post by 1 vote.

Next weekend Orkney are away to the Isle of Mull in the first round of the BT Cup.  The travel arrangements are away on the 4.45pm Hamnavoe from Stromness, an overnight stay in Lochaber, followed by the game on the Saturday in Mull and another overnight stay in Lochaber, then back North to travel back to Stromness on the 1200 ferry.