Orkney RFC U18s v Moray

21/10/2012

Picky- Sunday 21st October 2012
Score – Orkney 20 Moray 7

Orkney U18’s had their third home game of the season last Sunday against Moray at Picky the team was much changed from the side that came so close to upsetting league leaders Highland two weeks before. With 10 players unavailable it gave the chance to some of the guys who had been making up the bench recently to stake a claim for a starting position.

Moray kicked off and straight away Orkney were on the attack keen to take the game to the Elgin side. A well controlled forward push got Orkney up into the opposition 22 but they could not make the telling pass to get over the try line.

Eventually Moray gave away a penalty and Cammy MacConnachie knocked this over giving Orkney a 3-0 lead. The guys were a bit disappointed to only get three points but had controlled the game for the first 10 minutes.

Moray gave back hard from the kick off but the Orkney defence which has only given away 42 points in the last four games was determined to stay strong. Again it was the backs midfield leading by example with the ‘Twin’ centres of Sean Wood and Scott Russell in superb defensive form.

Moray could not gain anything from their period of pressure and Orkney pushed back up the field. Orkney won a line out inside Moray’s 22 and caught and drove with Andrew Linklater controlling at the back he fed to Ross Hamilton who broke down the blind side to score, MacConnachie missed the conversion.

Half time 8-0 to Orkney.

A good second half was needed by the local side if they were going to get a win Moray started strongly and were driving Orkney back their number 8 looking especially strong. Orkney gave away a penalty and Moray reduced the lead to 8-3.

Orkney have in the past dropped off in the second halves of games but were determined this week and after some good interplay betweemn forwards and backs Liam Sharpe ran clear to score in the corner, MacConnachie was unlucky with the conversion. 13-3.

Orkney were now in control and after a long kick from Moray which MacConnachie ran back strongly into the Moray half the ball found its way to Toby Penwarden who ran the final twenty metres to score between the posts, MacConnachie made no mistake with the conversion.

Final score Orkney 20 Moray 7.

A fantastic result considering the numbers missing, with 5 of the starting line up from the last game unavailable. Cammy MacConnachie was a deserving man of the match closely followed by the returning Penwarden and Euan Dunnet.

Again defensively Orkney were very strong, set piece went well and the kicking game was much improved. Selection for this weekends trip to Ellon will be interesting with several players now in the running for starting berths.

Finally deeskit of the day was voted to Craig MacLennan for his attempt at scoring while lying on the ground for the last 30 seconds out of the game.

KO this weekend in Ellon is 1230 if anyone is able to come and watch the boys being keen to avenge their defeat early in the season when they did not play well for the first half.

Match Report: Y.S.

More photos from the match can be found here.