Internal Rugby Match Report | West v Babas 11-2-23

Internal Rugby
Dounby, Saturday 11 February 2023
West 25, Orkney Barbarians 22

The latest ORFC internal game got underway this Saturday in Dounby with the home team ‘West’ taking on the ‘Barbarians’.

Photo & Video : George Brown

The game kicked off with a stiff breeze blowing across the pitch. West quickly took the game to the babas with some strong carry’s leading them into some good field position.

The home team coughed up a good try scoring opportunity which led to a scrum to the babas. West scrum half Bruce Pinkerton stuck a hand into the attempted pass by Scott Swannie at the back off the scrum.

Referee Ian Rushbrook deemed that it was a deliberate knock on, which meant a yellow card for the ‘West’ scrum half. This didn’t have much effect on the home team with them continuing to pile on the pressure but against the run of play the Barbarians outside centre Dale Walls intercepted a pass and ran it in from his own 22. Converted by Scott Swannie.

West didn’t let this early try stop them. After some strong carries which was quite evident throughout the match, West’s Ed Payne crashed through the middle to make it 7-5. The try was unconverted. The next 20 minutes of the half were well contested.

Half time score 7-5 to the Barbarians

West kicked off the second half with the barbarians knocking the ball on. This lead to a scrum to west in a good position. West captain Roy Temple profiting from some strong carries off the early scrum, leading to another try for West. Try unconverted.

Barbarians pulled their socks up and got 2 quick try’s from fly half Alan Thompson. This made the score 17-10 to the babas.

With some heavy legs evident Barbarians coach Erland Drever brought on the so called ‘Bomb Squad’ to bring experience and fresh legs onto the pitch.

Ryan Arcus the West number 8 barrelled his way threw off a quick tap go to cross over the line. Making the score 17-15. Try converted.

The young James Donohoe who had come on earlier in the second half ran round the outside after some slick handling by the Barbarians and dotted down to make the score 22-15. Try unconverted.

With 10 minutes left in the game West continued their attack on the barbarians defence. This led to them being right on oppositions try line, Scott Smith took this opportunity to dot the ball down from a few yards out. Try unconverted.

With a score of 22-20, West knew a try would seal the victory. A couple of missed tackles led Aaron Harvey in the last play of the game to break through the defence and gallop towards the try line.

Barbarians will be disappointed to let their early lead slip away but nevertheless it was an all round great day for Orkney Rugby.
Some great tackling and good handling throughout the game made for a fantastic watch for the spectators.

Men of the match for West was Aaron Harvey for his strong carries and big tackles and for the Barbarians fly half Alan Thompson who controlled the game well and crossed the line twice.

ORKNEY BARBARIANS: 1 Ryan Wade, Murray Simpson, 3 Ben Smith, 4 Frazer Merriman, 5 Frazer Dowell, 6 Omar McMahon, 7 Aly Amer, 8 Jacob Heal, 9 Scott Swannie, 10 Alan Thomson, 11 Jack Paterson, 12 Silas Cox, 13 Dale Walls, 14 Jacob Urgias, 15 Keith Deerness.
Bomb Squad: 16 Rob Thomson, 17 Derek Robb, 18 Allan Pirie, 20 James Donaho, 21 Andrew Linklater, 22 Kenneth Kent

WEST: 1. Ed Payne, 2. Roy Temple, 3. Steven Grieve, 4. Aaron Harvey, 5. Steven Tait, 6. Martin Harper, 7. Tom Spence, 8. Ryan Arcus, 9. Bruce Pinkerton, 10. Trevor Spence, 11. Mark Spence, 12. Scott Smith, 13. Paul Johnston, 14. Stewart Esslemont, 15. Martin Wishart
Weapons of Mass Destruction: Robbie Morris, Grant Nichol, Kyle Archibald, Ryan Walter, Oscar Payne, Paul Georges

Match Report: C.H.