Youth Rugby Match Report | U16s Home v Shetland 28-9-24

1/10/2024

Orkney U16 v Shetland U16 (48-22)
Pickaquoy, Saturday 28th September 2024

Orkney U16s welcomed Shetland on a cool breezy day for their first home match of the season. Shetland started the stronger team keeping Orkney well in their own half.

An interception from Thorfinn Thomson relieved the pressure but a few wee mistakes back and forth had the game to-ing and fro-ing.

Shetland were nearly in for a try, but strong tackling kept them out. Orkney were having to tackle and defend hard to keep Shetland out.

A break by Finlay Flett who offloaded to Owen Spence who ran in from the 22 and got the first try of the match. Shetland came back at Orkney, but again strong defending prevented Shetland from scoring.

Play moved to the middle of the park with no quarter asked nor given, for a pickup from the back of the scrum from Owen Spence on the halfway line who made it to the 22 with Niall Campbell in support to score the second try.

Shetland then got an interception but luckily Orrin Dick was fast enough to cover. Shetland were on Orkney 5 metre line,but the defending tackles were brutal. Magnus Montgomery, Balfour Norquoy and Jamie Milne all doing their bit.

Scott Slater was upended in a rough tackle which seen the Shetland player receive a yellow card taking Shetland down to 14 men. From the penalty kick and a lineout Orkney shipped the ball out to the back with Orrin Dick running in from nearly halfway for the third try with Thorfinn Thomson converting.

Shetland just wouldn’t go away and luckily again Jamie Milne was on hand to put in a belter of a tackle, Balfour Norquoy then had a brilliant run. Orkney recycled the ball, but a forward pass deemed no try. A scrum to Shetland – from this Orkney took the ball on the head, a pick and go from Owen Spence and an offload to Kaelan Spence to secure the fourth try with Thorfinn Thomson converting making the half time score 24-0 to Orkney.

Joe Thomson was next to score the fifth try with great work to get it out to the winger with Thorfinn Thomson converting again. It was not long until Balfour Norquoy swallow dived over after good handling to get them to the try line and secure the sixth try.

But as all Shetland teams do, they came back with a well worked try. From the kick off Owen Spence caught the ball and made good ground, again with a quick ball to Wilbur Bremner who made his way over for the seventh try.

Orrin Dick continued to put in great covering tackles to keep the enemy out, but alas Shetland breached the line with a passage of excellent play. Orkney were now bringing on some of the younger players who had the same commitment to the tackle as the players they had replaced. Ran Jackson and Balfour Williamson to name a few.

Another strong run from Orrin Dick saw his go over for the eighth try which was converted by Thorfinn Thomson. It was Shetlands turn to score with a good passage of support play and handling skills.

Shetland were then on the score sheet again with a good break from their centre which was the last score of the game making the final score 48-22 to Orkney.

This was a game played in the proper spirit of rugby. Good hard fair tackling and rucking. Both sides showing very good handling skills. Right from the start the boys had to tackle hard and they did that the whole game, with subs coming on and doing exactly the same to the last. The coaches were very proud of them all.
There were comments made from the Shetland coach how well the team played and made special mention to Jamie Milne and Owen Spence for their tackling and play.