Match Report | Hillhead Jordanhill v Orkney 23-3-19

​Tennent's National League Division 3
Hughenden, Glasgow - Saturday 23rd March 2019
Hillhead Jordanhill RFC 31, Orkney RFC 12

​​Orkney were well up for the challenge and chose to play into the wind in the first half. A series of unforced errors saw them trail by twelve points. After a very nervous start Orkney started to settle down. Going back to basics and carrying the ball hard in the forwards. The tactics worked and Orkney were awarded a penalty inside the Hillhead half.

​Captain Scott Rendall kicked to the corner for a lineout, clean ball set up the backs for a well worked move and it was the man himself who capitalised by scoring ten meters from the posts, the conversion was missed by Jon Tait, who unfortunately also missed a penalty which would have taken the visitors to within four points.

With the final play of the half Orkney were once more on the attack, but turnover ball was kicked by the Hillhead ten for the winger to chase sixty yards and he scored in the corner. This was the only time he managed to get past Matt Jackson from Orkney who had a commendable performance in defence.

Half time: 17 5 Hillhead.

With everything to play for and the wind behind their backs Orkney still believed that the win was possible. Taylor Pilkington Tait came on for Connor Hancock and Orkney went on the early attack. Unfortunately the referee awarded Jon Tait a yellow card after a disagreement at the back of a ruck, or maul according to the man with the whistle.

Orkney now went through a tough period conceding two more converted tries, making the score 31-5 to Hillhead.

However Orkney never gave up and impact substitution, veteran and ex captain Alan Brown was making good yards with some big carries which resulted in a try from club chairman Gary Nicolson, which will give him something to talk about during his wedding speech next Saturday.

​Taylor kicked the conversion taking the score to 31 12. Some excellent defence by Hillhead held Orkney at bay for the remaining eight minutes.

It is a very distraught Orkney team heading up to John o Groat's today waiting to hear how other results have gone and what future they have in the national leagues.

G.C.