Tennent's Caledonia Region League Division 1
Aberdeen - Saturday 12th October 2019
Aberdeen Wanderers 12, Orkney RFC 52

On Saturday 12th September Orkney RFC travelled away on league business to play Aberdeen Wanderers. This was the second time Orkney had played Wandies this season. The earlier game had been in the Caledonia shield where Orkney had run out comfortable winners.

Orkney travelled with a strong playing squad despite several players either injured or unavailable. Fortunately, the ferry journey was calm and smooth as the team had to “rough” it in pods due to school holiday season filling all the cabins.

Playing conditions were excellent; minimal wind, warm and a dry pitch albeit fairly short and narrow.

Jack Rendall Memorial Cup Matches - Kirkwall v East

Saturday 12th October saw the first Jack Rendall Memorial Cup match take place in very wet conditions at the Rugby Club with East visiting Kirkwall. To encourage unity within the sections, the coaching team decided to run a mixed warm-up with the Kirkwall and East players. They were split into their P4/5 and P6/7 age groups and took part in a 30min warm-up. The warm-up session allowed the squads to interact together with some different types of drills from straight running with ball in hand to defensive lines and footwork through the poles and ladders.

Primary 4/5 Match

With the school holidays just started, East travelled with a few less players than normal but Kirkwall were able to donate players to even up sides. Throughout the 10 minute halves, both teams were showing great spirit with a lot of running, tackling and support play. Kirkwall turned out winners on the day - Kirkwall 10 v East 4. Referee Al Watson

Primary 6/7 Match

The coaches for both teams decided to play 10 v 10 with no subs so that everyone was able to keep warm while the rain poured down. The pitch underfoot was heavy but it didn't seem to hamper either side and there was some great rugby being played during the 10 minute halves from both teams. East turned out winners on the day - Kirkwall 4 v East 9.

Referee Stewart Spence

N.M.

Tennent's Women's North League (East)
Kirkwall Grammar School -
Saturday 28th September 2019
Orkney Dragons 34, Aberdeenshire Quines 10

On Saturday 28th September the Orkney Dragons faced Aberdeenshire Quines in the Tennent's North League (east). The teams had only met once before in the Sarah Beaney Cup where Orkney came out on top by just one point.
Both teams have evolved quite considerably since then so neither side was sure quite what to expect.

The match kicked off at 12 on the KGS pitch and it was clear both sides were determined to come out hard and fast. The weather conditions meant the ball was quite greasy and this resulted in some handling errors and plenty of scrums. In the beginning Quines’ big  pack had the edge in scrum but the Dragons soon began to thwart the Big Cats’ efforts with Laura Baillie at prop and Florence Ungaro both hooking the Quines’ balls from them.

The scoring was opened by Dragon Vice Captain Tiphanie Cazaneve followed by Rebecca Scott successfully converted by Nikita Scollie leaving the half time score at 12-0

Tennent's Caledonia Regional League Division 1
Pickaquoy - Saturday 28th September 2019
Orkney RFC 102, Hillfoots RFC 5

On Saturday 28th September Hillfoots rugby made the long trip to Orkney for this Caledonia regional league fixture.
Orkney were keen to continue their winning start to the season. However, the previous weekends game had seen long term injuries picked up by two regular forwards and with other players unavailable it was testament to this year’s squad that Orkney still fielded a strong squad. Orkney started the game with four props and a hooker in the pack, this limited the lineout options a wee bit but certainly beefed up the scrum and maul!

Also making a welcome return to Orkney rugby was William Thomson who had until recently been playing with Watsonians in Edinburgh. His experience and knowledge of the game should assist with the development of the current squad, especially in the backline.
Weather conditions for the game were perfect; a slight breeze and it would remain dry for the game.

A squad of 23 Under 14s welcome Caithness for the return fixture from last week.  Caithness has 6 players so a game of 15 v 14 was agreed with Orkney having 15 for the first quarter and then 14 for the remaining quarters. Players from Orkney moved across and over the whole game everyone played at least once for Caithness.

The first quarter was played with Orkney on top for most of the 15 minutes with some good link play between the players. The first score came after some good work from Alfie Copland followed by an Aiden Cooper break and the ball worked to Brogan Russell to score.

The Orkney RFC Mini sections from the East, Kirkwall and West gathered on the training pitch at the back of the Clubhouse on Saturday 21st September for the annual Kirkwall Mini’s Tournament. 
The weather was fantastic with not a cloud in the sky and the pitch conditions were also dry underfoot. In total there were around 80 girls and boys taking part.

There were three Primary 4/5 squads, one from East, Kirkwall and West and they all played a couple of matches each.  This was the first time that the Primary 4 players have played in a full tournament with contact and none of them looked out of place. 

A squad of 23 Under 14s headed over to Caithness on Saturday 21st September for their first match of the season with 9 S1s making their debut.  Captain for the day was Christy MacLeod and the Vice Captain was Euan Knox.
The match was agreed to be 4 periods of 15 minutes and as Caithness did not have a full squad Orkney agreed to 8 players heading across and this was changed at every quarter.