Match Report | Shetland Ladies v Orkney Dragons 7-9-19

On Saturday 7th September the Orkney Dragons faced the daunting prospect of travelling to Shetland with a rather depleted squad to continue their campaign in the Tennent’s Women’s North League (east).
 
With two comfortable wins already in the bag and a strong squad of 22 Shetland had to be considered firm favourites at the outset. Orkney always knew they faced an uphill battle so they came out fighting. The Orkney forwards were as ferocious as ever and the virtually brand new back line set up of Tiff Cazaneve, Ailsa Drever , Emmy Smith, Amy King, Shell Pennington and Megan Foubister rose to the challenge .

During the periods of Orkney’s attacking play strong carries came from Emmy Smith at 12, Nikita Scollie and Laura Baillie however Orkney just couldn’t quite capitalise enough to put any points on the board. Shetland piled on the pressure scoring 2 tries but Orkney continued to defend heroically in their own 22 leaving 3 tries held up due to the efforts of Jennifer Scott and Megan Foubister.
 
Shetland were obviously frustrated at the score line of 10-0 and lost focus with two players receiving yellow cards for high tackles going into half time. The break allowed the home team time to regroup and it was clear they intended to adopt new tactics to dominate the play. And dominate they did, exploiting the ever tiring Orkney pack who had no choice but to power on due to the lack of fresh legs from the bench.
 
Shetland received their third yellow card of day but they drew in the Orkney forwards before skillfully sweeping the ball wide and scoring time after time down the wings. Ailsa, Shell and Megan had an almost impossible job out here but they held their end up impressively.
 
 Orkney kept their heads held high and knuckled down but a knee injury for Amy King took her off and Ally Marwick came on from the bench just before Dragon’s No.8 Nikita Scollie received a serious facial injury so with some re shuffling and uncontested scrums the game continued 13aside- Ally totally unphased by being called into the 2nd row!!
 
 At 19 minutes to go the final result was indisputable but the Dragons persevered and the last phase of play had them with possession of the ball inside Shetland’s 22 before the final whistle was called.
Final score 64-0. A disappointing outcome for the Dragons but the team were proud of their performance against the rails.
 The return match on the 21st of September will be one not to be missed.

Thanks must go to Yvonne Rendall and Sean ‘Tattie' Corrigall for travelling with the team and the two Caithness players Shauna and Emmy. But extra special thanks must go to the gentlemen with the motorcycle who delivered the letter from the Gilbert Bain hospital to the airport; without which Nikita would not have been able to fly home.

Travelling squad. Shauna Malcolm, Sandra Davey, Laura Baillie, Rebecca Scott, Jo Inkster, Jennifer Scott, Florence Ungaro, Nikita Scollie, Charlene Nicol, Tiff Cazaneve, Ailsa Drever, EEmmerleigh Smith, Amy King, Shell Pennington, Megan Foubister, Ally Marwick. Mascot Andrew Baillie.

The next League game is away against Aberdeenshire Quines on Saturday 14th September

J.I.