A Never To Be Forgotten Day of Rugby In Westray

Hubert Haunschmidt Memorial Cup
Pierowall, Saturday 18 March 2023
Westray 19, Orkney Barbarians 27

The inaugural Hubert Haunschmidt Memorial Cup was played for last Saturday, 18 March 2023, in Westray in memory of the man, now deceased, who brought competitive rugby to Westray, and laid the foundations for Westray to make a very positive contribution to the development of rugby in Orkney generally.

There was a big crowd of spectators and amongst that crowd was Hubert’s wife, Shirley, who used to be the much admired sole doctor on Westray.

Photos: Orkney Photographic, Video: George Brown

Organised by Erland Drever the event was a huge success and the game, described below between Westray and the Orkney BaBas was a cracker!

3 x 2s For Goalposts:

Mid-week before the game, Robbie & Jake Hutchison decided that the previous method of taping lengths of 3x2 to the goalposts wasn’t really suitable to mark such an occasion.

So Robbie got some steel from OMS, which was very kindly donated when they heard about the cause, and the pair managed to fabricate a brand new set of rugby posts in time for the big day!

Robbie & Jake Hutchison and the new rugby posts

When folk arrived at the ground next to Westray’s School/Community Centre there was a strong wind blowing and with that wind at their back Westray made the most of using the wind to their advantage.

Simon Owen was the first Westray player to cross the whitewash for the opening score and that score was followed by a try when Adam Baird smashed through the BaBa’s defence to give Westray a commanding lead.

However, after this blistering start by Westray, Orkney Baba’s came into the game and exerted pressure on the Westray defence which resulted in the BaBa’s getting to half time with a commanding 22-14 lead.

During the second half of the game Hubert’s son, Tony, stepped on to the field as a Westray substitute and made a fine contribution.

There was no let up to the pace and intensity of the game in the second half and Adam Baird managed to score a second try taking the score to 22-19, and that was the score as the game reached the last few minutes of the game with Westray pressing hard on the Baba’s line and both the defensive tackling and the attack play was intense and of a high quality.

However, with one slip by Westray the ball was recovered by the Babas who raced the length of the pitch to break Westray hearts and give the Baba’s a 27-19 victory.

It was only after the final whistle was blown that many in the crowd, and on the field of play, realised that had Westray kicked one of the penalties they were awarded in those dying minutes the game would have ended up an honourable draw and a fitting end to such an entertaining, and exciting, game of rugby.

In the Pierowall Hotel afterwards a good time was had by all.

Robbie Fergus was awarded the Man of the Match for Westray and Jack Paterson was awarded Man of the Match for the BaBa’s.

Scores by Paul Johnson, Bruce Pinkerton, Ryan Moonie, Simon Owen and Adam Baird were all noted, and Geordie Drever gave a good commemoration speech about Hubert, which reminded all of the company the reason that had brought all of us to Westray for a brilliant game of rugby and wonderful friendship in The True Spirit of Rugby. - Long may that continue!!


Match Report: Ian Carse