Match Report | Perthshire v Orkney 25-3-23

Tennent's National League Division 3
North Inch, Perth - Saturday 25 March 23
Perthshire RFC 26, Orkney RFC 32

On Friday 24th March 2023 Orkney Rugby senior men’s team left Orkney for their latest Tennent’s national league division three fixture. Opponents the following day being Perthshire.

Orkney buoyed by their recent performances would be looking to continue their fine form and take another step towards securing sixth place in the league to ensure their place in National three for next season. Due to a restructure of the leagues the bottom six teams are to drop down to a new National league division four.

Travel for the game was on the Northlink ferry to Aberdeen who are long established sponsors of the club at all levels through their Community Sponsorship scheme. After a reasonable ferry journey Maynes coaches delivered the squad to Perth in time for a decent warm up.

The game commenced with Orkney receiving the kick in dry cool conditions with little wind to speak of. The pitch itself firm and in good order.

From the kick off Orkney were struggling to find their rhythm and impose themselves on the game. Perthshire were working hard to keep them from exiting their (Orkneys’) half.

It took about nine minutes into the game before Orkney started to flow and ask repeated questions of the home side. Mixing hard direct running with exploring the wider channels through the backs coupled with good ball retention took them in to the home twenty-two metre area.

This drew a penalty advantage and allowed Orkney to create an overlap down the blind side. Scrum half Thomson took the ball to the line and dummied to his support outside. A would-be tackler took the dummy and allowed Thomson to canter in for a try. Hancock securing the conversion.

From the restart Orkney once more went on the attack, a good run up the right wing by Stevenson taking play to the home twenty-two once more. Once more Perthshire were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck.

The referee initially looked to play advantage but Thomson cleverly knocked the ball on at the base to set the penalty. He then quick as a flash took a tap in front of the referee and took off much to the dismay of the home players and support. He made about ten metres and drew the last defender passing to his captain Linklater who had spotted the ruse. Linklater gratefully running in for the try. Hancock once more added the extras.

Perthshire reacted with determination and tenacity to these setbacks and quickly forced their way into Orkney territory. Their forwards running hard and retaining ball to take them to within five metres of the Orkney line. Initially Orkney managed to repel the repeated drives with low hard tackling forward on forward, but the home centre Armstrong spotted an opportunity and dived over a tackle for an unconverted try.

The next ten minutes of play was dominated by Orkney, but unforced errors were creeping in and stymied a couple of scoring chances.

The half looked to be drifting to a close with no more scoring until Orkney once more started to apply pressure. Initially centre Russell made good ground in the midfield. Quick ball was played left to winger Ross who made even more yards at pace.

This led to the Perthshire defence conceding an offside penalty in front of the posts about twenty metres out. Orkney decided to take the scrum, an area where they were becoming ever more dominant. From the scrum the ball was moved quickly left to centre Russell who used his pace and power to go over for the try. Hancock once more converted.

Half time 21-5 in Orkney's favour.

Orkney for their part looking dangerous across the field, set piece working well and capable of scoring tries when they were accurate. Perthshire showing they were ready to capitalise on Orkney mistakes and quick to turn over Orkney ball in the tackle should Orkney not support the ball carrier quickly enough.

The second half began with Orkney looking to build on their lead and pull away from the home side. Perthshire looking to get back on terms quickly.

Ten minutes in to the second half Orkney were dealt a blow and an advantage at the same time!. Flanker Jon Tait and influential lineout forward picked up a loose ball and as he straightened up the home centre Armstrong went to tackle him but hit him on the corner of the right eye head-to-head.

Tait had to leave the field due to a cut and Armstrong was shown a red card for direct contact to the head. On another day, the referee might have seen enough mitigation on the body position of Tait to reduce the sanction to yellow.

Griffiths entered the fray for Tait and Gray assumed Tait's lineout duties. Now with the player advantage Orkney would be looking to try and exploit the extra space.

It didn’t take long for Orkney to do just that. From a lineout the ball was played to centre Russell who once more made good ground before being tackled inside the home twenty-two. The ball was quick form the ruck and played out to winger Stevenson who was stopped just short. Hooker Rendall drove hard from the line but he too was stopped.

Ever alert Thomson saw a chink at the side of the ruck and dived over for his second try of the day and secured the try bonus in the process. Hancock hooked his conversion attempt against the post.

From the restart Perthshire kicked long. It was gathered by Orkney, and they tried to run the ball out when a clearance kick would have been more prudent. This led to the concession of a penalty for holding on in the tackle.

From this position on the Orkney twenty-two metre line they ran the ball and drew another penalty. This was taken quickly, and Orkney were unable to prevent the try. This time converted by fullback Armitt.

Before the restart Orkney chose to replace winger Ross after a sound afternoons work with Silas Cox coming on for his first Orkney cap.

Orkney then responded from the kick off by going back on the attack only to be denied by a penalty against them for holding on as the try line was begging.

Orkney though stuck to their task and once more worked their way in to the home half backs and forwards linking well, making ground and retaining ball. With the player advantage the pace Orkney were playing at led to an overlap that winger Stevenson managed to exploit and went in for a well deserved try in the corner. Hancock unable to convert from the difficult angle.

Orkney prop Craig Rendall then came on for captain Linklater who had put in a good shift and is improving every game following his injury woes at the start of the season.

Orkney’s final points of the game came soon after from a lineout drive about fifteen metres out from the home line. The pack initially mauled the ball forward before hooker Rendall peeled away up the blind and passed to Thomson who danced through the defence to score and complete his hat-trick on the day. Hancock once more with the conversion.
Thomson leaving the field shortly after, being replaced by Pizon for the last ten minutes.

It was Perthshire who had the last say on the scoreboard though scoring just before full time. Their winger making the break before offloading to a support player for the try. Unfortunately, the conversion was missed.

Final score was 38-17 in favour of Orkney who were well worth their bonus point victory.

Player of the match for Orkney was awarded to William Thomson for his three well taken tries and all-round performance.

This Saturday sees Whitecraigs RFC travel to Orkney for the next fixture in National 3. Orkney will be looking to maintain their winning streak with only three games remaining in the league campaign. Whitecraigs will be looking for revenge after a narrow defeat at home to this Orkney side. Kick off is at 3pm on the centre pitch at Picky.

Orkney team; Niall Campbell, Scott Rendall, Alistair Linklater (cpt), Adam Watt, Duncan Gray, Jon Tait, Craig Brough, Liam Moar, William Thomson, Connor Hancock, Ewan Stevenson, Scott Russell, James Donohoe, Philip Ross, James Linklater subs; Craig Rendall ,Owen Griffiths, Silas Cox, Justine Pizon.


Toecruncher