Tri-School Tag Festival

On Friday 26th April, Orkney RFC Modern Apprentice Liam Sharpe held a Tag Festival between Stenness, Orphir and North Walls Primary Schools. 54 players attended and took part in the event, which had 4 pitches and 8 teams in total.
The “Tri Schools Tag Festival” took place at Orphir Primary School, this allowed the use of changing rooms and good playing facilities and it was also easiest for Stenness and North Walls to attend in terms of transport.

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The schools met at 10am in the Orphir primary school hall, Stenness travelled by mini bus and North Walls caught a ferry across to the mainland then a bus. Once all the players were settled they were split into teams within their schools and got changed into the playing gear. Stenness had 2 teams, as did North Walls, Orphir being the biggest of the three schools fielded 4 teams.
The games started at 10.30am, each game was approximately 15 minutes long, with a two minute half time, after each game teams got 5 minutes to rest and move to their next pitch. There were a total of 3 games played in each pool. All three schools have received blocks of Tag Rugby over the last year with Orkney RFC Modern Apprentice Liam Sharpe and Rugby Development Officer Bruce Ruthven so the standard of the games was very high, each team brought different talents to the field and played some great games of rugby.

The festival was a deemed a great success with all pupils and teachers involved enjoying the day and making most of the weather which only had one minor wintry shower.

Festival organiser, Liam Sharpe commented;

“The day has been a really big success and I am really glad that the players have all really enjoyed it. I have seen some really good communication and support play throughout the games which has provided some exciting passages of play. This is the first Tag Festival I have organised and run by myself and is a good practice for the schools ahead of the Community Rugby Project Schools Tag Festival on Friday 3rd May”

A big thank you must go to the referees of the day: John Deerness, Michael Swanney, Bruce Ruthven and Robbie Firth, without them the festival would not have taken place; Bruce Pilkington (Orphir and Stenness Head Teacher) for his continued support throughout the organisation and planning of the festival and to Chris Sharpe for providing medical cover for the day. Another thank you must also go to Stenness, Orphir and North Walls Primary Schools for coming and taking part today and making it a success!