Youth Rugby Match Report | U16s Away v Montrose & District 13-1-24

Montrose & District U16 v Orkney U16 (26-69)
Saturday 13th January 2024

The Orkney lads were off on their travels again, the first of the new year and the first in the Caledonia Plate. A calm boat journey and a short bus run of 1 hour 20 minutes.

Orkney kicked off on a cool dry day and started brightly. Orkney got a penalty within 3 minutes into the game which Ronan Hamilton duly converted.

U16s, U18s & 2nd XV Group Photo: Orkney Photographic

The Orkney boys were keeping the ball well, a breakthrough the line by Michael Scarth who offloaded to Ian Moar who offloaded to Alfie Price to score under the posts and Ronan Hamilton converted.

From the kick off Montrose knocked on in the air but Alfie Price caught the ball and hared off up the pitch. Tom Hamilton picked up at the back off the ruck and danced and darted over in the corner, with Ronan Hamilton converting. Lewis Moncrieff was making good ground and Tom Hamilton was unlucky not to get his 2nd try.

Montrose were now playing some good rugby and were camped in Orkneys 22. From the scrum a knock-on by Orkney Montrose scored and converted.

Both teams were showing good hands just the odd wee knock on or peedie mistake Orkney spent a long time in the opponent’s half but couldn’t add to the score.

Montrose cleared their line and with a good kick and chase were just outside Orkney’s 22. Orkney gave away a penalty, the ref took Orkney captain Michal Scarth to the side and said to him to have a word with his players, whilst doing this and with an Orkney coach still on the pitch Montrose were allowed to take a quick tap penalty and scored (extremely bizarre).

Ronan Hamilton took a tap restart which he had been told he could do and then it was taken back to a kick restart with the home crowd keeping the referee right. We were going to be in for a stormer!

From the restart Jack Doyle went for the ball and took a proper illegal no arms wrap in the air clatter from the Montrose No 10 with only a penalty being given. This kind of tackle has to be dealt with more harshly and taken out of the game solely for the protection of players and referees have to be stronger in decision making.

Orkney were keeping pressure, Taylor Gibson managed to score in the corner after good work from Jack Doyle and Ronan Hamilton. A wee bit of slack defending allowed Montrose to go up the pitch and score. Half time score 21-22.

The second half started slowly until Jason the gazelle Buchan picked up the ball well in his own 22 and ran it in for a fantastic solo try. From the restart then Alfie Price caught and ran the ball backed up by Owen Spence who ran in unopposed under the posts. Jack Doyle was then replaced by Ben Paterson.

Michael Scarth then went through a brilliant purple patch scoring a Hatrick of tries with Montrose having no answer to him and his buffalo charging and stripping the ball in the tackle.

Thorfinn Thomson came on at number 10 and Ronan Hamilton moving to fullback, Jamie Milne came on and replaced Jack Innes. Shortly after Ronan Hamilton came off, Ashton Sutherland slipped into fullback and Joe Thomson on the wing. Niall Campbell replaced Jason Buchan. Then Ian Moar unfortunately suffered an injury resulting in a broken collarbone.

Even with all the changes Orkney were still able to score, Michael Scarth picking from the base of the scrum to score the last of his Hatrick. Thorfinn Thomson converted. Ashton Sutherland wasn’t to be out done and caught a poor kick from Montrose on their 10-metre line and ran in to score immediately. Thorfinn Thomson converted.

From the restart Jamie Milne made good yards passed to Ben Sinclair who passed to Taylor Gibson who had a nice easy canter to score. Orkney did let Montrose in to have the final say with the game ending 26-69 to Orkney.

Orkney were once again outstanding as a team, with the journey travelling and not long off the bus before kick-off to come out and perform the way they did. They played the game in true rugby spirit. All the lads who come to training are all a credit to Orkney RFC and the coaches could not be prouder of each and every one of the U16’s.

Thanks once again to Northlink for their sponsorship and service.

Coaches player – Ian Moar, Tom Hamilton, Michael Scarth.
Players Player – Alfie Price.

Team
Alfie Price, Ashton Sutherland, Ben Paterson, Ben Sinclair, Ian Moar, Jack Doyle, Jack Innes, Jamie Milne, Jason Buchan, Joe Thomson, Lewis Moncrieff, Matthew Meason, Michael McGee, Michael Scarth (C), Niall Campbell, Owen Spence (VC), Ronan Hamilton (VC), Taylor Gibson, Thorfinn Thomson, Tom Hamilton.


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