Picky - Saturday 6th October, 2012
Orkney RFC 26, Mackie Academy FP 12
Despite having a fair bit of possession in the first half, and rarely being under pressure, the home side failed to get any points on the board as they played towards the Muddisdale end, with Adam Baird’s crash over the line midway through the half judged to have come from a forward pass.
For the most of this opening period it was a bit of a dour midfield battle, with both sides possibly struggling to cope with the strong crossfield wind. It meant the board was still blank when they broke for their half-time team talks.
There was some great handling in the build-up to Orkney’s second try soon after, and it was the other Guthrie twin this time – Chris – going over. Protests from Mackie that the ball had gone forward were waved aside by the referee, who signalled it had come off a knee before going to hand.
Orkney were visibly more confident now and in the 55th minute William Thomson was over for a third try. The conversion drifted just wide of the uprights this time, leaving the score at 19-0.
Scott Rendall showed that props can do some effective kicking too, as he sent a nicely placed kick out of the Orkney half for a lineout right on the Mackie 22.
A welcome home win for Orkney then, and something to hopefully build on as the side heads south to meet St Andrews University this weekend, followed by a home match against Caithness on October 20.