Orkney RFC - The Official Website
  • Home
  • The Teams
    • Senior Rugby
    • Youth Rugby
    • Mini Rugby
    • Community Rugby >
      • Coaching Resources
  • Membership
    • Senior Membership Form
    • Junior Membership Form
    • Social Membership Form
    • Pay Membership Fees Online
  • Fixtures / Results
    • Results Archive
  • Club Info
    • Contacts / Location
    • History
    • What's On?
    • Calendar
    • Club Shop
    • Clubhouse Booking Form
    • Marquee Booking Form
    • International Tickets
    • Sevens
    • Real Ale Weekend
  • Photos / Videos
  • Sponsors
  • Home
  • The Teams
    • Senior Rugby
    • Youth Rugby
    • Mini Rugby
    • Community Rugby >
      • Coaching Resources
  • Membership
    • Senior Membership Form
    • Junior Membership Form
    • Social Membership Form
    • Pay Membership Fees Online
  • Fixtures / Results
    • Results Archive
  • Club Info
    • Contacts / Location
    • History
    • What's On?
    • Calendar
    • Club Shop
    • Clubhouse Booking Form
    • Marquee Booking Form
    • International Tickets
    • Sevens
    • Real Ale Weekend
  • Photos / Videos
  • Sponsors

News Updates

MATCH REPORT | Howe of Fife v Orkney 8-10-22

10/10/2022

 
Tennent's National League Division 3
Duffus Park - Saturday 8 October 2022
Howe of Fife 41, Orkney 14


On Friday 7th October 2022 Orkney Rugby senior men’s team left Orkney by Northlink Ferry to travel south for their latest Tennent’s national league division three fixture against Howe of Fife in Cupar.
Picture
Photo: Rohallion
Picture
Following a smooth crossing the team travelled from Aberdeen to Cupar by bus supplied by regular travel partner Mayne’s coaches.

The weather in Cupar was more akin to a spring day sunny, bright, no wind and very warm.

The squad not unusually for Orkney rugby was showing five changes from the previous week. This was through injury and unavailability. It did however open opportunities for some of the younger members and over half of the nineteen-man squad were twenty years old or younger.

The game commenced with Orkney kicking off to Howe and looking directly into the low winter sun. Orkney managed to win the aerial contest and started probing the home defence. The home defence looked well up for the task and thus it would prove to be the case for the duration of the game.

Sound defence led to a turnover for the home side and their ten punted a kick deep into Orkney territory. The ball was fielded by Young James Donohoe who ran directly back at the approaching Howe players. He was hit hard in the tackle and brought to ground. His support penalised for going off their feet at the ensuing ruck. Unfortunately, that would be the last involvement for James suffering a dead leg in the collision. Jacob Heal coming on to replace him.

Howe with possession and territory were looking for some reward. Initially from a lineout they drove towards the Orkney try line and looked to have driven over but Scott Russell managed to prevent the ball being grounded. Orkney then took a goal line drop out that was fielded by Howe and worked towards the centre of the field before being spun left to a pod of forwards out wide. They carried hard and brushed aside poor tackling for an easy try. The conversion going wide.

For the next ten minutes or so Orkney had some good possession but were struggling to break a very well organised and strong defence. Accuracy was the key to build pressure and gain field position, but all too often errors were forced by the home defence.

While Orkney were struggling to break the gain line Howe conversely were carrying hard and breaking the gain line, allowing their backline space to operate in. This led to their second try. Quick ruck ball out left being fed right to the backline who ran in unopposed for an unconverted try.

The third Howe try arrived shortly after. From a lineout the ball was played wide right. Then switched back along the line left where big runners were lurking. One of these powering over for a score. Once again, the conversion was missed.

Orkney then worked hard to get up into the home twenty-two metre area and apply pressure looking for a score before half time. Awarded a penalty in front of the posts Orkney opted for a scrum one area where they were performing well. After good play, the ball was turned over at a ruck and Howe were able to clear the danger with a long kick up field.

The Orkney fullback fielded the ball, but he was hit hard in the tackle and knocked the ball on outside the twenty-two-metre line. From the resulting scrum Howe went on the attack and scored a converted try right on half time again bossing the gain line forcing the Orkney defence on its heels.

Half time Howe 22 – Orkney 0. Howe playing very well and missing nothing in defence. Orkney looking to find their rhythm, improve accuracy and create more questions for the home defence.

The second half started with Orkney in determined mood attacking hard and forcing Howe in to conceding penalties. From one of these Orkney kicked to the corner for the lineout. It was taken well but Howe took the maul down illegally and advantage was played. Niall Campbell almost getting over but lost the ball. With no advantage the ball was still with Orkney who took a tap penalty and the forwards drove hard for the try line. Pressure paid and Robbie Firth was driven over for the try. Connor Hancock stepping up to slot the conversion.

From the re start Howe were awarded a penalty and their livewire scrum half took a quick tap against a sleeping Orkney defence. Two of his teammates reacted quickly and were on his shoulder to take the scoring pass for a converted try.

Shortly after Owen Griffiths replacing Craig Rendall at Loose Head prop for Orkney.

Orkney were back under pressure for the restart but managed to break out to the halfway through Craig Slater. However, his pass to Ewan Stevenson being deemed forward and a scrum was awarded to Howe allowing them to attack once more and apply pressure.

Orkney withstood this pressure and defended a scrum on their five-metre line. While trying to exit the Howe replacement prop hit Jon Tait in the head as he was falling in the tackle. This earned him a yellow card and ten minutes on the side line. During this period Orkney forced a couple of penalties and Scott Rendall found good distance when he kicked to touch. However, Orkney were unable to secure their lineout and all momentum was lost.

Howe were back on the attack and looking for more points. Some good running by their backs released their winger who was running hard for the try line. Craig Slater was running hard to make the tackle and just as he was about to make the tackle the winger slipped, and Slater struck him on the head. This led to a yellow card for Slater. From the penalty the home pack drove for the line and scored a converted try.

Orkney from the kick off managed to gain possession and territory in the Howe half. Working hard to engineer an opportunity. However, their accuracy let them down at a key moment and the home side transitioned well into attack. Hitting the blind side to get in behind the Orkney defence. They supported the break well and managed to run from their own twenty-two to score under the Orkney posts. This was easily converted.

Orkney still showing the resilience they have so far this season went back on the attack from the kick off and now were starting to get gain line success and drawing penalties. Good carries and quick recycling led to the ball being played to Hancock who dummied to Russell and popped the ball to Slater fresh from his spell on the touch line. Slater dived over for the score under the posts. Hancock converted this.

The whistle then blew to end the game. Final score 41-14 in favour of Howe of Fife and over the game deserved winners. Their defence in particular exceptional on the day. Orkney’s young squad ever willing to the end certainly gaining much needed experience against a very well drilled team.

Player of the match for Orkney was awarded jointly to Robbie Firth and Scott Rendall. Scott Russell was also prominent in defence and came more into the game in an attacking sense the longer it went on.

Orkney team; Niall Campbell, Scott Rendall, Craig Rendall, Adam Watt, Ronan Gray, Jon Tait, Craig Brough, Robbie Firth, Ali Morgan, Connor Hancock, Ewan Stevenson, Scott Russell, Craig Slater, James Donohoe, Jamie Hutchison, subs; Owen Griffiths, Connor Macleod, Justine Pizon, Jacob Heal

This forthcoming Saturday sees Greenock Wanderers RFC travel to Picky with Kick Off at 1230hrs on the centre pitch.

Toecruncher

Comments are closed.

    News Categories:

    All
    1st XV News & Reports
    2nd XV / Internal Rugby
    Community Schools Rugby
    General Club News
    Girls / Ladies Rugby
    Mini Rugby
    Social
    Under 14s
    Under 16s
    Under 18s
    What's On?


    Join Here

    Picture

    Picture

    Contacts & Location

    Contact List & directions 
    to our clubhouse
    More

    Club Shop

    Club shop

    Calendar

    Club Calendar

    Picture

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    January 2009
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008


    Orkney RFC

    RSS Feed

JOIN US! - MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
SENIOR
JUNIOR
SOCIAL
MEMBER BENEFITS
Picture
Scotland Tickets
Picture
Clubhouse Booking
Picture
Marquee Hire

CONTACT US - COMMITTEE LIST & LOCATION
Picture
CLUB SHOP
Picture
CALENDAR
Picture
WHAT'S ON
Picture

SPONSORS
The Orkney Brewery
Main Club Sponsor
Alison Moore Jewellery
Highland Park
Northlink Ferries
Orkney Builders (Contractors) Ltd
Picture

MINI DIARY
TWITTER
Tweets by orkneyrfc
FACEBOOK

© Orkney RFC, Pickaquoy, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RR
Tel: 01856 872163

Contacts    What's On?    Bar Rota    Pay Subs
 Clubhouse Bookings    Privacy Policy    Sevens