Stirling University RFC 47 V Orkney RFC 5

1st XV Match Report
1st November 08

Orkney 1st XV travelled away on a flat calm Friday night sailing with Northlink from Kirkwall to Aberdeen to play Stirling University. The kick-off was due to start at 11:15am but at 11:05am one of the students announced that there would be a delay as the referee was expecting a 2pm kick-off. After the first warm up and subsequent warm down, then a second warm up, the game kicked off at 12 noon.

The students soon showed how they intended to play the game in typical university fashion. They were keen to attack from phased rugby and kicks over the top with many fast chasers following these up.  Orkney never really capitalised on their own possession and when the Orkney players became isolated, the students easily stole the ball.
However, Orkney were playing physical rugby when given the chance and it became apparent that the students weren’t keen on getting into contact with the visitors. At one stage of the game it appeared that every time the whistle blew, at least one of the students was left on the ground nursing his wounds. A dislocated finger made for a short stop but a dislocated knee stopped play for 15 minutes. This unfortunate stoppage seemed to work against Orkney as they appeared to switch off until the half-time whistle. Mid way score 16 – 5.

At the start of the second half, Orkney were able to string together some phases of play but at the last moment, the ball was spilled or stolen. The students capitalised on these mistakes by counter attacking with great speed and many support players. Orkneys defence appeared to crumble with very few first up tackles actually being successfully executed. From here on in the students started to throw the ball wide and although they too made mistakes, they were able to continue to score.
Final score 47 – 5.

Orkneys try scorer was Phil Ross.
Team list: E Drever, I Houston, N McCartney, S Spence, A Brown, S Paterson, C Rendall, E Russell, E Laughton, J Dearness, P Ross, E Hutchison, S Milne, A Towrie, R Moodie. Subs: K Cooper, G Slater and A Corse. Coach: R Spence

Big Mac