Match Report | Hubert Haunschmidt Memorial Cup 2024

Sat 30th March 2024 saw the long anticipated Hubert Haunschmidt Memorial Cup played for the second time with Westray hoping they could turn over last year's defeat and keep the cup north of the galt.

The game began with Bill Robertson piping both teams onto the pitch and forming two lines on pitch to have a minute's silence to reflect and remember Hubert and his contribution towards WRFC.

Photos: Orkney Photographic

Westray kicked off the game and held the Ba Bas in their own 22 for a long period with some strong forward play.
The babas had the first chance of points opting for a pen kick but it was missed.

The first points on the board arrived through Westray man for the day Keith Holland. He would normally be seen in red for his home isle of Stronsay but a North Isles Man none the less, showed no mercy crashing over for the first score of the game with the try converted by Johnny Drever.

The Orkney Ba Bas came back into the game with two strong runaway tries from the young speedster Tyler Wolstenholme with Jacob Urgias converted one of the 2 tries.

Next on the score sheet was Westray, Luke Rendall with a trademark crash ball from center leaving Ba Bas in his wake to go over just right of the posts, conversion missed.

Play was end to end and next up was the Holm hobbler Ryan Moony who crashed over after some nice off loading and interlinking play from the Ba Bas, Jacob Urgias conversion.

Westray managed to pin back the Ba Bas in their own 22 and after a few phases of play Erland Drever bundled over from close range. After a fight with the goal post he managed to get the ball touched down for the final score of the first half.

The conversion was missed, making the half time score Westray 17 Orkney Ba Bas 19.

That’s how rugby should be played - fun, banter and big hits!

The second half was as entertaining as the first with play from end to end with the Ba Bas defence holding strong.

It was Stronsay man Keith Holland who found a gap to race through and open the second half scoring with Johnny Drever adding the extras with a well taken conversion.

The Orkney Ba Bas were not done and Andrew Linklater forced his way over from close range with a tap pen try, converted by Jacob Urgias.

Westray took control and pinned the Orkney side in their own 22 for the last 10 minutes of the game. their weight advantage took over on the scrum, taking several against the head with Aussie veteran Billy Elliot lasting the full 80 at hooker and at times thinking he was playing fly half and in a rugby League game with the height of his tackles!

With this sustained pressure Simon Owen with his trademark runs found his way over the white wash to touch down. Some say his enthusiastic celebrations could be heard as far away as picky infield as the first team prepared to kick off! His try was converted by Alan Thomson.

Alan was unlucky not to score himself after this but had the ball ripped from his grasp just inches from touching down. Ba Bas showing that never giving up pays off and battled to the end.

The last try of the game and the most impressive one of the day came from Westray skipper Adam Baird.

Adam took a quick tap from a penalty on the 22 made use of the Ba Bas having their backs turned and not ready. He threw a superb dummy and went in under the posts to touch down the final try of the game converted again by Alan Thomson.

The final 5 minutes seemed to take forever to come but with the call from the ref for the day Ian Rushbrook it was time the ball was kicked out and the celebration could start and went long into the evening and early morning.

Final score Westray 38 - Orkney Ba Bas 26

Both teams gathered in front of a large crowd on a superb spring day of sunshine to have the cup presented to captain Adam Baird from Shirley Haunschmidt who had made the long journey back to Westray for the special day of rugby.

Big thanks to Ian for his superb reffing making it a nice flowing game.

Men of the match:

• Westray - Robbie Fergus
• Orkney Ba Bas - Ryan Mooney

Huge thanks must go first to captain of the Ba Bas Murray Simpson for his hard work getting a team out for the day. Also for him and a few others for staying out and sampling the Westray hospitality!

Another huge thanks to Graham and Cindy King for coming out for the weekend not only did Conger play but also gave a superb speech in the hall at the meal.

Last but not least, huge thanks to the Westray Rugby Club committee Adam and Karriz Baird Caroline Kent, Val Thomson and all their helpers who pulled out all the stops for an incredible day and night of rugby.

One quote from a spectator “That’s how rugby should be played - fun, banter and big hits!”

E.D.