Match Report | Aberdeen University Women v Orkney Dragons - 18-10-2025

On the back of their 2 home wins the Dragon’s were finally on the road (sea) for their first away trip of the season.
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With a wee bit of shopping and breakfast stop it was off to play another new team Aberdeen University Women.

Photos: Charlene Nicolson

Down a few player from the previous week’s game it was more changes in the forwards with Grace MacGregor starting as loose head prop showing her strength and ability to drive the scrum, Natalie Rose in as hooker and Sandra Davey back in as tight head.

With Tyla Whitehead also starting in second row alongside Alanna Smith in her normal number 5 position. With Jess Thomson back training after her holiday’s it was back to flanker for her with the young Gracie McLeod in 7 and Vice Captain Nikita Scollie at the end of the pack in the number 8 role.

With pleasant conditions in Aberdeen for a midday kick off at the University pitches it was Aberdeen to kick off but it was no time at all that Grace MacGregor had stolen the ball and with a few rumbles down the pitch it was the Dragons on the score board first with Aleisha Womack securing her first try of the match and with Cailynn Williamson back on kicking duties she cleared her first conversion of the day with confidence putting the Dragons ahead with 7 points.

It did not take too much longer and Amy Walkers was off down the pitch from our 22 for another Orkney try under the posts.

Orkney were starting to get fully in their stride with Tyla Whitehead making some very big tackles and runs, Sandra Davey outstanding in the rucks with some amazing clear outs and ending the game with her standard black eye.

Jess Thomson seemed to be everywhere and was tackling like a trouper. Catherine Green also showed some impressive tackles and runs out on the wing, continuing to show increased
confidence in her playing.

With strong scrums and Natalie Rose back in hook position was also playing with confidence and showing no fear in her tackles throughout. It was Gracie MacLeod being lifted in line outs and with her long arm stretches and leans stealing many balls from the opposition.

It was another good Orkney scrum that Nikita Scollie in her 8 position secured the ball and it was passed out through the backs out to winger Nicole Work for her first try for Orkney.

With Nikita setting up a further try Chloe got the rewards, Cailynn with some great steals but unfortunately Aberdeen managed to get back into the game and it was their number 20 who stormed up the pitch for a try but it was not long that Nikita was back in control taking the last try of the first half with Orkney leading 33-5.

With stability in the backs with no changes from the starting team from the previous weeks game it was back into the second half with the birthday girl Aleisha Womack in full swing quickly getting more points on the board.

Not long after and Nikita again was back in control with a hand off that would put the fear in anyone more points were on the board. The combination of kicking/chasing from Captain Angela Shearer, Aleisha Womack and Cailynn Williamson lead to another plethora of tries for Orkney.

Cailynn was just short of the tryline with an off load to Chloe Prescott for her to get her first try of the game. Gracie McLeod with her solid runs, tackles and impressive counter ruck steals put herself on the score board next.

Amy Walker had a bad lander with another player landing on her leg and it was the end of her game for the day, with a trip to the hospital to be checked out and with a few other injuries there was changes to be made with Nikita moving to prop and Angie moving from the backs to flank which was a position she seemed to thrive in being everywhere on the pitch and tackling like a trooper with leading the team with solid determination to get more points on the score board.

Lucy Flett our secret bomb on the bench who had some good kicks and some not so good kicks on the day got stuck in as always, along with our 2 borrowed players from Garioch; Dessy Johnstone in the forwards and Rhea Work (sister of Nicole), it was not long Rhea had made her mark and had a try over the line, making a Work sister duo of tries.

It was not long after that it was Gracie off again with the ball and with some good support play tipped the ball out to Grace for her to storm over the try line. It was Aleisha with another impressive kick/run down the pitch for the last Orkney try of the day.

With so many position changes and tiredness setting in it was the turn of Aberdeen to take control of the game and with some good rumbles down the pitch and hard fought play that they secured the final points with a try and conversion ended the game 12-97 another fantastic win for Orkney Dragons.

Birthday girl Aleshia Womack scoring 6 tries, Chloe Prescott 2, Nikita Scollie 2, Amy Walker 1, Nicole Work 1, Rhea Work 1, Gracie Macleod 1, Grace MacGregor 1 and Cailynn Williamson 11/15 conversions.

Queen of the Team for the forwards Tyla Whitehead, backs Cailynn Williamson and the Aberdeen Uni pick for us Aleisha Womack.

With thanks to Northlink Ferries for their continued sponsorship and Aberdeen University for hosting us and John Cairns our coach for making the trip down and keeping us right.

Top Photo:
Back Row: Hatty Compson (medic), Sandra Davey, Lucy Flett, Grace MacGregor, Tyla Whitehead, Alanna Smith, Nikita Scollie (VC), Jess Thomson, John Cairns (coach).
Front Row: Catherine Green, Cailynn Williamson, Aleisha Womack, Angela Shearer (C), Chloe Prescott, Gracie Macleod, Natalie Rose

N.M.