Match report: 1st XV v Greenock Wanderers 10-9-16

14/9/2016

BT National League Division 3
Pickaquoy Outfield - Saturday, September 10, 2016
Orkney RFC 88, Greenock Wanderers RFC 7

A DOZEN ORKNEY TRIES, 10 CONVERSIONS AND A PENALTY SINK GREENOCK ON A BRIGHT AFTERNOON FOR RUGBY AT PICKAQUOY

Orkney trounced Greenock Wanderers 88-7 in the Pickaquoy sunshine on Saturday afternoon, getting back to winning ways in some style in a one-sided but often entertaining 80 minutes.

It might have been a penalty from Graham Poke that opened the scoring, but from then on it was all about tries and conversions as far as securing points went.

First half tries from Craig Slater, two from Darren McLean, and one from Chris Guthrie, along with three conversions from Graham Poke, meant that Orkney turned round 29-7 at half time. The visitors' only points of the match came from a converted try after 15 minutes.

It was pretty much one-way traffic in the second 40 minutes though, and William Thomson opened the scoring with a breakaway before a great turnover of possession set Chris Guthrie away for his second of the match, rounding towards the posts for Poke to slot his fifth conversion.

Philip Ross was next on the scoresheet before creating the opportunity for William Thomson's second try minutes later. Poke certainly had his kicking boots on and it was 55-7 as the match headed into the final 10 minutes.
It was turning into a real rout now though, with Adam Watt getting on the scoresheet and then Scott Rendall, winning his 100th league cap for Orkney, split a brace of scores from Dean Campbell. Campbell was looking like a valuable addition to the Orkney RFC set-up on his return home.

A burst of nostalgia then as Al Watson looked hungry for a try off the last scrum of the match and there was a bit of deja vu about his dash in under the posts for a well-deserved five pointer.

Orkney's man of the match Graham Poke took his conversions to double figures to round off the scoring on a day that Orkney could be satisfied with doing all the simple things right as they kick-started their league campaign.

R.L.