U18s v Ross Sutherland Match Report 1-3-14

Picky - Saturday 1st March 2014
Final Score: Orkney RFC U18s 8, Ross Sutherland RFC U18s 10

On Saturday Orkney under 18s entertained Ross Sutherland; this was the boy’s first game of Rugby since they played the same team in mid December. This was the first game of the year on the outfield pitches and they where found to be in remarkably good condition.

The Orkney team contained five players from Caithness, as Caithness had to withdraw from the league due to lack of numbers. They have agreed to play for Orkney allowing us to continue playing in competitions.

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The game kicked off with Orkney playing into a stiff breeze. In the first period of play the team’s lack of games was evident with quite a few missed tackles giving an advantage to the visitors.

After eighteen minutes of play this rustiness allowed Ross to score a try, the conversion being missed.

Orkney had periods of pressure as the half progressed but failed to score. Before half time Ross scored another unconverted try making the score 10-0 to the visitors at the break.

Starting the second half the Orkney team felt confident that with the advantage of the wind they could turn around the deficit. The game was played for long periods in the Ross half but getting points on the board was proving to be difficult due to stout defence by the opposition.

After fifteen minutes Orkney where awarded a penalty, Taylor Pilkington Tait decided to kick for goal and scored Orkney's first three points.

The half continued in a similar vein with the Orkney forwards exerting pressure that Ross defended stoutly. The only score for the remainder of the game was a try, when Andrew Taylor used his strength to power through the defence. Unfortunately the score levelling conversion was missed.

Orkney continued to dominate the game and on two occasions the referee had to give five metre scrums as he could not be certain the ball had been grounded or crossed the line. Unfortunately we had no TV cameras to assist the referee.

Just before the end of the game Orkney flanker Chris Munson had to be carried from the pitch after a severe head knock, fortunately after a visit to hospital he was given the all clear.

The match ending 10-8 to Ross Sutherland was a disappointment to the Orkney team but hopefully it will have given them good practice for the Caledonian Bowl semi final away to Aberdeen Wanderers on the 15th of March.

Many thanks to Adrian Askew for coming out of retirement to referee the game.

L.H.