Westray Mini Rugby Tournament 19-9-23

On Sunday 19th September 2023, fifty five P4-7 players from East, Kirkwall and West travelled to Westray to take part in the second (hopefully, now annual) Minis tournament.

Conditions were near perfect on arrival on the island and we were greeted by local mini-buses to ferry us smoothly to the school, ready for the rugby ahead.

Westray Mini Rugby Tournament 2023

The group from off island were joined by twenty local Westray players (ten Minis, ten Rookies) and the Minis were divided into mixed teams for the day. Beginning with an hour of training in handling, tackling and touch, all players had the opportunity to gain experience with a variety of different coaches.

They showed exemplary behaviour in meeting and welcoming each other in their teams and hopefully forged bonds that will continue long into the future. By the time training was over, players were well warmed and ready to get stuck into the tournament.

Thanks to Sarah Leslie for all  the photos in this report

The P4/5s section consisted of four teams:

1. Yellow Flash
2. Bluebells
3. The Butchers
4. Young Bulls

The players all stepped up to the challenge – some of the P4s just a few weeks into contact rugby – and games were hotly contested, all teams having their moments of excellent play. A number of the players showed confidence in their runs, looking for space and capitalising; while others showed initiative by supporting well and positioning themselves effectively for both attack and defence.

The game results were:

• Yellow Flash v The Butchers - 9 - 5
  
• The Bluebells v Young Bulls - 5 - 5
  
• Young Bulls v Yellow Flash - 6 - 3
  
• The Butchers v The Bluebells - 6 - 7
  
• Yellow Flash vs The Bluebells - 6 - 7
  
• The Butchers vs Young Bulls - 5 – 7
  

Overall winners were The Bluebells, winning two of their games and drawing the third.
Medals also went to the following players in each team:

Yellow Flash

• Players’ player: Leo Thomson
  
• Coaches’ player: Dylan Watt

Bluebells

• Players’ player - Ronnie Pepper
  
• Coaches’ player - Jamie Ritch
  

Young Bulls

• Players’ player - Tommy Rendall
  
• Coaches’ player - Murray Baird

The Butchers

• Players’ player - Scott Thomson
  
• Coaches’ player - Callum Flett

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The P6/7s section also consisted of four teams:

1. Red Bulls
2. Aquatera
3. The Boats
4. Green Machine

The game results were:

• Red Bulls vs The Boats - 3 - 0
• Aquatera vs Green Machine - 1 - 6
• Green Machine v Red Bulls - 5 - 2
• The Boats v Aquatera - 5 - 6
• Red Bulls vs Aquatera - 5 - 4
• Green Machine v The Boats - 6 - 4

Overall winners were Green Machine, winning all of their games!
Medals also went to the following players in each team:

Red Bulls

• Players’ player - Calum Elder
• Coaches’ player - Logan Pepper

Aquatera

• Players’ player - Melissa Nicholson
• Coaches’ player - Kian Stockan

The Boats

• Players’ player - Tom Montgomery
• Coaches’ player - Lolo Garrett

Green Machine (Winners, all games)

• Players’ player - Lochlan Hamilton
• Coaches’ player - Thorfinn Kent

Top try scorer in the P6/7s section was Lauchlan Hamilton.

While the Minis spent the afternoon splashing in the pool, the now ten-strong Rookies cohort from Westray spent the afternoon training with some willing coaches and reaped the rewards of decades of experience. After instigating their own challenge, Harry White was the youngest player awarded a medal on the day for his performance and dedication during the session.

Orkney RFC would like to say a massive thank-you to trip sponsors, Scottish Sea Farms for making the event possible as well as Cooke Aquaculture for covering the hire of the pool.

Many thanks also to all the coaches and parental helpers who supported the wee ones and all of whom are fundamental to ensuring these fantastic experiences are able to go ahead. A huge thanks to Adam and Karriz Baird for all their effort and organisation of space, refreshments and hosting the increasingly large gathering! Thanks also to Sean ‘ Tattie’ Corrigall for overcoming illness to help coach and ref on the day.

R. Robinson