Orkney RFC U16s Tour to Edinburgh a great experience

9/4/2013

Orkney RFC under 16s traveled down to Edinburgh for their eagerly anticipated tour to play against two of the top teams in the central belt and one of the best teams in Scotland. The players had fund-raised incredibly well prior to the tour raising over five thousand pounds which enabled flights and quality accommodation for the twenty six strong tour party.

Heriots RFC v Orkney RFC. Match report by Ross Sinclair.

It was a clear, crisp day at Heriots playing field, “Golden Acre” It was Orkney's first game of their 3 day tour down in Edinburgh.

The game kicked off at one o clock on Saturday 30th of March
In the first 15 minutes there were two consecutive scrums resulting in Heriots being awarded a penalty – which after some nice, quick hands – resulted in a try by the wing. Kick was converted. After the kick off Heriots knew that passing it threw the line was the best option. The ball was passed all along the line resulting in another try. No conversion. After the second kick off Orkney were awarded a penalty. Mark Sinclair tapped a quick one for a short, sharp break scoring a try. Kick Converted and on the 25th minute Chris Munson picked the ball from the scrum and scored Orkney's second try. Kick converted.
Heriots fought back with a break by their half back on the 30th minute mark, he shifted it to the center and a try was scored. Orkney were awarded a line out just before the half time whistle, the forwards caught the ball and drove it which was released by Cameron Gray who popped it to the center and Orkney 3rd try was scored. Kick converted. A minute before the half time whistle Orkney lost the ball which resulted in the last try of the half by Heriots center.

After half time the team started to believe that they could go on and win the game.

With 4 minutes into the 2nd half a sweeping pass from their 10 created space resulting in a try for Heriots. No conversion. Orkney won a scrum 10 minutes later, 5m from the goal line and drove it over for at try. Heriots knocked the ball on which created a chance for Orkney to recycle it. The ball was passed to James Brown who hit the gas down the blind side and took it home. Conversion Successful.

Final Score Heriots 37 – Orkney 28.

Orkney traveled to Maleny Park for their Sunday fixtures versus Currie & tour outfit Southport which was going to be another tough day for the Orkney boys.
Match report by Taylor Pilkington-Tait.

As the match kicked off it was obvious that some of the boys were feeling sore and tired, this was proved, when after four minutes of strong running from Southport led to a try. Conversion missed (5-0).

Conceding this try woke the boys up and from a scrum on the 10 metre line, a set move between TPT and Cameron Gray, Gray broke through and score in the corner, conversion missed (5-5). The Orkney team were starting to get into the game a lot more and the forwards were taking on good slow balls, especially James Nicolson, Taylor Pirie and Robbie Hay gaining metres every run, unfortunately they couldn't capitalize and at the half time it remained 5-5.

In the second half Southport started just like the first half, quick of the mark leading to a converted try, (12-5).

Orkney made a few substitutions, bringing on some rested players, one of these being Mark Sinclair, who on his first run of the game, managing to break through 3 tackles with powerful running and score. Conversion missed (12-10)

Southport replied not long after this to score another converted try making it 19-10 which was the final score and left the Orkney boys feeling disappointed with their performance.

The final game of the tour was versus Currie RFC. Currie are considered one of the best teams in Scotland with currently four players in the Scotland u16 squad and have talent and sizable players right through their large squad.

Match report by Taylor Pirie.
It was a crispy frosty day, It was an Orkney kick off which taken by the Currie number 8 who made a break down the line then eventually turned over by Orkney but knocked on which led to a Currie scrum, then it was passed out to the Currie center who scored try under the posts. Conversion made 0-7 to Currie.
Orkney restarted the game then it was taken by Currie then recycled and eventually try was scored by the Currie center due to missed tackles. Conversion made 0-14 to Currie.

Kick off by Orkney was then taken by Currie who passed it down the wing then scored due to missed tackles. Conversion made 0-21 to Currie. Kick off by Orkney then it was taken by Currie which led to a lot of center play and a lot of breaks by both side but eventually taken on the blind side of a ruck by the tight head prop who was driven over the try line. Conversion missed 0-26.
Half time could not come quick enough for the Orkney players and gave them a chance to settle down and re-group after a good talking to from Coach Bruce. The re-start kick off was taken by Currie by which led to a lot of center play but eventually Currie turned it over and made a break and scored a try, conversion made, 0-33 to Currie.

Finally the Orkney boys started to step up their game and then due to hands in the ruck by Currie it was a penalty to Orkney which was taken by Robbie Drever who made a good few yards then picked by Chris Munson who driven over the line. Conversion made by TPT. 7-33 to Currie. Currie then took the kick off then taken by Orkney which was cut back and a break by TPT resulted in a try. Conversion made 14-33 to Currie. End of the game.

Coach and tour organiser Bruce Ruthven reflected;

"The boys have had a couple of hard days of rugby and combined with the travelling have experienced what a proper tour is like. We knew the games would be challenging for the squad but they will be better players for it with a greater understanding of the game, exposure to quality opposition and now a belief that they can compete against these big clubs.

We probably should have beaten Heriots RFC but were constantly thwarted by poor refereeing decisions in the final stages of the game. The Southport game was disappointing and the players fell short of their own standards but finished the tour strongly with a solid second half performance versus a very strong Currie team who will be favourites in the National U16s Cup Final at Murrayfield this week.

Well done to all the boys for their efforts over the past months with fundraising and their positive attitude and commitment throughout the tour. Thanks also to Gary Coltherd (Forwards coach) and Managers Les Howard & Bruce Pilkington.

Tour Squad: Robbie Hay, Taylor Pirie, Robbie Drever, Liam Moar, Craig Stout, Euan Humphreys, James Nicolson, Chris Munson, Sam Kennedy, Ross Sinclair, Mark Sinclair, TPT, James Brown, Cammy Gray, Craig Russell, Sam Croy, Andrew Shaw, Adam Fallows, Ciaran Drever, Scott Smith, Orrin Fraser, Craig Stevenson.

More photos from the match can be found here.