Orkney RFC Under 18s 14 - Moray RFC U18s 28

7/9/2013

Caledonia North Under 18 Division
Dounby - Sunday 1st September 2013

On Sunday 1st of September Orkney under 18 rugby team played the first league game of the season against Moray Rugby Club. With no pitch available in Kirkwall, Dounby kindly agreed to allow the use of the school pitch.

The game was played in atrocious conditions with heavy rain and a gale force cross wind. Orkney fielded a quite young side with ten of the squad playing at this level for the first time.

The Moray team with a more experienced looking side settled to the conditions slightly quicker and after four minutes scored a try near the posts after good forward play, this was converted giving them a 7-0 lead.

This set back gave the Orkney team a shake up and some very good positional kicking from Taylor Pilkington-Tait gave his team some chances, unfortunately moves broke down often with penalties being conceded when a score looked possible. Half way through the half Moray scored another try that was converted. This did not discourage the boys as after some good handling Taylor scored a try out wide. Taking the kick himself he used the wind to perfection and floated the kick between the posts, 14-7 to Moray.

Leading up to half time Moray scored again the try being converted, half time score 21-7.

At the half time break coach Bruce Ruthven encouraged the boys as the score was not a true reflection of the first half play.

This seemed to have the desired effect as after some strong play fifteen minutes in David Porteous scored a try , Taylor once again converting. With score now 21-14 the home side felt it was possible get back on level terms. After some near misses and penalties being conceded by Orkney, Moray broke away and scored a fourth try and once again the conversion was good. 28-14 to Moray being the final score.

Considering the weather conditions this was a very good game of rugby and with all six tries being converted in such a strong cross wind quite amazing.

Orkney can take a lot of encouragement from the game and look forward to the rest of the season. Man of the match for Orkney was TPT with his nine points and very good distribution of the ball. The next game is this week end at home to Shetland.

For match photos click here