Match Report | 2nds XV Away v Skye 27-4-24

Orkney Photographic Challenge Trophy
Plockton, Saturday 27April 2024
Skye RUFC 8, Orkney 2nd XV 17

Orkney 2nd XV headed down to Skye for their 3rd game of the season with a squad having a healthy mix of youth and experience.

After the five hour coach journey they arrived at Plockton and a pitch in a beautiful setting, described by Swein ‘fae Hoy’ Thomson as “a bit too remote for my liking”.

The boys were off to a shaky start and struggled to get any flow into a stop start game that suited the bigger pack of the Skye team. Strong defence lead by Erlend Gilmore and Alan Pirie prevented Skye from scoring a try. Forcing them to eventually choose to kick the points and take a 3-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Some strong runs by Man of the Match Owen Griffith and veteran Robert Thomson started stoking the Orkney engine as momentum was gained leading to prop Martin Harper parting the defence and scoring under the posts.
Conversion somehow missed by Ryan Mooney. 3-5

In an instant reply the Skye battering ram forward pack got the ball close to the Orkney line before slinging it wide and outside a shivering Tommy Stockan for a try in the corner. 8-5 to Skye.

With half time beckoning and the cold rain easing off, Derek Robb used his many many many years of experience and surged through a gap before offloading to Silas Cox who ran the remaining 147 meters outpacing 17 Skye players to dive into the corner for a try. Conversion missed by Simon Beattie. 8-10 to Orkney HT.

With the second half came a level of fatigue for both teams and discipline slipped with penalties being awarded to one team of the other at virtually every ruck. Frustration began to show amongst the Orkney ranks and Co-Captain Ryan Mooney was asked by the ex-Murrayfield referee to calm his players, in particular the Irish fly half Simon Beattie.

With the game still very tight and time slipping by in the greasy conditions a loose ball was dived on by the Skye flanker, resulting in him giving a diving head-butt to the gonads of Co-Captain Murray Simpson. But with his father Bruce Simpson coming off the bench at 72 years old Murray made sure he stayed on the pitch to play as another Orcadian father son combo.

Some strong runs from the young Ryan Linklater on his senior debut lead to a gap for scrum half Tyler Wolstenholm to sneak through and be brought down just short of the line in the dying minutes. From the resulting rucks the Big Rig Owen Griffith barrelled over the line to score a well deserved try. Converted by Silas Cox from the touch line. 8-17 full time.

It was then time to head to Skye itself for the 3rd half getting to know our opposition better while some alcohol was consumed and dance moves revealed.

A massive thanks to our Host at Skye rugby and we look forward to seeing them in the league next season! A big thanks to the referee for coming out of retirement to make sure his whistle still worked for this game.

A final massive thanks to both Erland Drever and Bruce Simpson for all their efforts in sorting the travel and accommodation; to Ryan Newlands for all his fundraising efforts; Scottish Sea Farms & Rendall’s Competitions for assisting with the costs and to Pentland Ferries for their ongoing support!

Silas Cox