Girls Rugby Match Report | Great North Challenge - Inverness 3-11-24

On Sunday 3rd of November, the U14s girls were down to Highland RFC for the 4th date of the Great North Challenge.

As usual they met girls from Highland, Lochaber, Ross Sutherland and Caithness for an 8-aside tournament among North West Caledonia clubs, gathering points at each date to progress into the final phases gathering club from the whole Caledonia North region after Christmas.

Orkney, Highland and Lochaber the only three clubs having had a full team regularly, are in tight competition for the top of the table, with Orkney currently in front not far before Highland.

First game against Highland on their home ground is a tough one for the Orkney girls. The Highland players have stepped up their game in tackling and rucking over the holidays, and the Orkney girls are having a harder time getting back into the rhythm after the holidays, losing a lot of balls in the rucks and tackle under Highland pressure.

As usual captain Morven Dick puts it a strong shift, making one tackle after the other, and making it through the defense line to put the first points on the board for Orkney.

She is soon joined in her effort to stop the Highland players by new caps Ailsa Mills and Aoife Spence, who rise to the challenge unafraid to take on bigger and older girls, and following their examples the Orkney team starts to find their pace and add a few more points to the board, though not enough to make up for points conceded in the first half : Highland 9 - Orkney 5

After a break watching another Highland win against a Lochaber/Caithness team, the girls are back on the pitch.

This time the Orkney girls are rearing to go and straight into the game. The defensive effort is now equally shared with all players managing great tackles in defense, and the girls are supporting each other well in attack finding gaps through the defense and around the wings. Orkney wins easily Orkney 8 - Lochaber/Caithness 5.

The day finished with a friendly game of 15 aside with Orkney+Caithness against Highland+Lochaber. This game ended up in a draw 3-3 with some great actions from Orkney players including a try by Freya Boonzaier after a line break in her 22.

Queen of the Team : Ailsa Mills.
Coaches' player : Aoife Spense.

Well done to all the girls.

Thank you to Highland RFC for hosting, and NorthLink for the travel sponsorship.

T.C.