Mackie RFC U16s 36 - Orkney RFC U16s 17 
Stonehaven - 24th November 2012

The Orkney boys travelled down overnight on the Aberdeen boat on Friday 23rd november ready for a tough encounter with Mackie RFC. Once the boys were suitably rested and fuelled up from breakfast they made the short Bus journey down the road to Stonehaven.

It was an early 11am kick off on a cold and frosty morning to ensure the teams would get back to Aberdeen to watch the Scotland International versus Tonga. 
Play started with an Orkney kick off from TPT and the boys started very strongly for the first ten minutes with the forwards displaying great rucking, working the ball up to the try line by which eventually resulted for a try by Cameron Gray, conversion missed (5 – 0).

Orkney RFC played their 11th game of the season and 5th away game on the trot, against Hillfoots RFC in Tillicoultry on Saturday. Hillfoots, who are unbeaten at home for the past 2 seasons, would have been confident that it would be another home win for them but Orkney proved to be too much for the Clackmannanshire outfit, winning their 2nd away match on the trot, 29-22.

On Friday the 23rd the Orkney u14 took the overnight boat to Aberdeen. They were going to the Aberdeen sports village followed by lunch and then on to an international game Scotland v Tonga at Pittodrie which every one was really excited for.

Inter-county trial match

A disappointing turnout for the inter-county trial match with several players away at Murrayfield and several other withdrawing for work commitments meant that only 21 players took part. 

The match was played between the 22m line and the far 10m line across the pitch to increase the level of contact and reduce the space for folk to run into.  Despite this the game was still high scoring with break-downs difficult to come by without back-row forwards slowing things down and adding a bit of structure.  As it was much of the play from both sides was in ones and twos, and despite some good individual efforts both in defence in attach the game lacked any real shape.

West 43 - The Rest 36

Another high scoring internal match was held last weekend, as the Mighty West entertained the Rest in Dounby.  Final score 43 -36 to the West.

For the second week in a row perfect conditions allowed players on both sides to play a fast and expansive style of rugby – with one player short in the back row and blind side wing – gaps were also easy to find.

A couple of no-shows and late call offs meant the Rest had succumbed to the West’s early psychological taunts, only managing to field eleven players.  However some strategic borrowing and steeling of West players saw the match get under way 13-a-side, Erik Knight taking charge of the whistle.

Ellon U16s 7 - Orkney U16s 24
Saturday 3rd November 2012

Orkney travelled down on the Friday night boat to Aberdeen followed by a half an hour bus journey to Ellon RFC. Orkney had high expectations after a comfortable win at home to them earlier in the season and due to what the thought was a strong squad with some small changes to the starting team from last week.

The game kicked off around 12:30 on a crisp, clear wintery morning. It was a very even first 20 minutes with both teams playing for territory, Ellon came out better though winning a scrum 5 meters out on the right touch line and scoring in the left corner. This was then converted. Orkney bounced back straight away with a 5 meter scrum which saw Chris Munson do an Number “8” pick and successfully dive over the line to score, conversion missed. (7-5)

Westray/Isles 45 - Mainland 31

A truly international experience in Westray for the second leg of the Isles Challenge Shield, with players and supporters from Scotland, England, Ireland, Poland and even a Spaniard watching from the touchline!

The Isles boys had pulled out all the stops managing to produce 18 players despite many from the first leg being unavailable on the day.  With the dozen or so from the Mainland it meant that a full 15-a-side encounter could be enjoyed.  Both squads had a mix of youth and experience including 5 former First XV captains, and roughly the same number of debutants. With perfect conditions above, and underfoot, Adam Baird got the match underway just after midday.