Match Report: Orkney 3 - 17 Ardrossan Accies 13-1-18

BT National League Division 3
Pickaquoy - Saturday 13th January 2018
ORKNEY 3, ARDROSSAN 17

​Orkney started off the match well putting the visitors Ardrossan Accies RFC under huge amount of pressure, the home side were entrenched in the oppositions 22 for nearly 30 minutes of the 1st half apart from one foray into the Orkney 22 where they were awarded a penalty which they duly converted into 3 points. Orkney then got back into the opposition’s 22 where they were awarded another penalty which was converted by Danny Bain to make it 3 apiece. ​

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In minutes 33 & 35 Ardrossan had 2 breakaway tries due to lack of concentration by Orkney’s defensive line which did not reflect the game one bit and it was a hard lesson to be learnt by the Orkney side after all their work in keeping the opposition in their own 22 for very long period of times. The reason that stopped Orkney from scoring when in the oppositions 22 is either the inability to throw the ball wide or the confidence to do so, which has been affecting the scores since the season began.
 
The Orkney side are doing all the hard work & the right things to get into the red zone of the opposition where they should be scoring, they are making the oppositions defence narrow & compressed but it is the composure, patience and mental fortitude that is letting things go wrong especially when patience is required. 
 
To score points a team needs to be confident in mind and attitude when it comes to game time, the game management of any side will never be strong if they don’t train together.
I’m writing this as a coach and someone who cares for the current Orkney players & Club. If the attitude and commitment of all the potential players in Orkney who could be part of the playing set up to increase numbers and create depth of players does not improve then the current National 3 status may be in jeopardy and may never be achieved again.
 
A week or so ago I asked about hats for current players and I was expecting an order from maybe 25 - 30 players, in the end I ended up with an order of 52 for just players who believe they are part of the current players pool If this is the current numbers of players who believe they are part of the playing side then we should have at least 30 guys minimum training every week and wanting to play.
​Also from the 52 who do not get selected to play for the 1st XV then they should be making themselves available to play 2nd XV rugby because if we have 2 teams running out regularly we will have depth of players and we would not have any issues playing away from home.
 
I’m not going to apologise for calling those people out who talk and do nothing to help your club on the playing side, so for all of you who read this that are current, former and or on the list of 52 players I suggest you have a look in the mirror and question oneself as to what you can do to make Orkney as successful as I know they could be, since being here I have seen huge potential but potential is worth nothing unless there is commitment behind the potential to make it a reality, tomorrow night from about 7:45 - 9:00 pm there is a whiteboard session plus a little game analysis of the last league match, so if you want to come along please do, and listen and talk as its an informal evening in which all views and opinions will be valued
 
Paul Livingstone
First XV Coach
ORFC