Orkney U16s make promising league start!

Caledonia North Under 16 League Match Report
Invergordon: Saturday 7th September 2013
Orkney RFC U16s 87 – Stornoway RFC U16s 7

A squad of only 15 boys travelled down to Invergordon, for their first Caledonia League game of the season, against Stornoway.  This was listed as a home game for Orkney but due to travel arrangements they had to meet half way. After a brief warm-up, Stornoway got the game underway with a kick. Straight from the start, Orkney dominated and within 10 minutes gone, Orkney had scored 3 tries all coming from Orkney's pace man Sam Croy, only one of which was converted.

Orkney carried on with very good team play throughout the first half, with 6 tries being scored, created from good counter rucking from the forward pack, and also organised moves from the backs.

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Sam Kennedy and Jack Scott proved very efficient in the middle row giving the Stornoway pack problems at every breakdown and lineout.  Four of the six tries came from Orkney's Captain Cameron Gray, and strong running from Fergus Macivor, and the beast prop, Robbie Hay, who had been threatening the Stornoway's try line all game eventually hammered under the posts, for the last try of half.   Four conversions from the six coming from Croy. Orkney closed the first half leading at the break by 55 points to nil.

The second half was slower paced with more chances being created for under 16's boys. Liam Thomson in particular, displayed strong running and confidence throughout the match. The second half also saw Sam Croy, Cameron Gray, Euan Humphreys, Robbie Hay and Archie Macphail who scored in the dying minutes of the match in his first U16 game.

Stornoway's only try of the game came from their number 8 who performed brilliantly from start to finish, they would have scored a second if it were not from Euan Humphries brilliant cover tackle.  

Special mentions go to: Ciaran Drever for his consistent place kicking and assisting tries; Arjun Pankhania for a solid performance at scrum half and wing.

Player's Man of the Match goes to Liam Thomson for an impressive debut performance at U16 level. Doodle of the day goes to James Nicolson for dropping the ball on the line.

Coach Bruce Ruthven commented:

“The boys delivered a solid performance today showing a mature performance against some big opposition players.  I am especially pleased with the performances from Liam Thomson, Dylan Evans, Ali Morgan & Archie Macphail who all stepped up admirably in their first league game.  The game was fairly one sided which the score reflects but credit to Stornoway who battled until the end.  Next week the boys are away to Moray RFC which will be a far greater test.  Travel plans will be leaving Friday night on Aberdeen boat returning Saturday night from Aberdeen.”