Two good teams produced an entertaining tussle in sunny but windy conditions on an excellent pitch at Orkney.After lengthy periods of second half pressure Orkney produced a try late in the game to clinch a 20 - 15 win.
Travel arrangements had run smoothly and GHK arrived in plenty of time to stretch the legs with a brief walk around Kirkwall followed by a good pre-match warm up.The locals would probably describe the wind as a light breeze compared to the gale force of the previous two days but there was a strong,chilly wind blowing across the pitch,which would make it tricky for the kickers.
GHK were quickly out of the traps with ball won from the kick off and good handling,with Hugh Parker feeding Danny Hoffman whose kick through was knocked on by GHK 5 metres out. A very good GHK scrummage disrupted Orkney who conceded a penalty. Andrew Fleming popped the kick over for 0-3 in 2 mins.
Play was a bit loose from both sides as the teams tried to settle. GHK conceded a penalty on their 10 metre line,in 6 mins, but Orkney missed the kick. Play continued to and fro with some hard tackling and rucking from both sides. Another good GHK scrummage on Orkney's 10 metre line allowed Mike Aird to release the intruding Andrew Fleming but he couldn't get the pass away to the support. However,the referee awarded a penalty to GHK back at 10 metre line. Andrew Fleming missed the difficult kick across the wind.
A mix up on the call between John Shannon and Andrew Fleming for receipt of the Orkney 22 drop out resulted in a knock on.Orkney produced several phases of strong running and ball retention but gave away a penalty. GHK found a good touch and won the lineout but lost possession going forward. Hugh Parker stole the Orkney lineout ( one of several occasions when GHK either won or disrupted the opposition lineout) but the long diagonal kick to the corner went out on the full.
GHK were showing the stronger in the set piece with controlled scrummaging and disrupting Orkney ball but Orkney were doing enough to retain ball and make ground with some strong play in the loose,kept at bay by some great tackling by backs and forwards and some aggressive foraging in the rucks and mauls where Mike Borthwick was particularly prominent.
A couple of high balls from Orkney caused a bit of confusion between catchers which was followed by a scrummage infringement and the penalty was kicked to the corner for a lineout on GHK's 5 metre line. The drive from the lineout was held up but a quick tap from a free kick to Orkney was driven over for an unconverted try. 5-3 to Orkney after 23 mins.
GHK continued to dominate the scrum,disrupting Orkney on 3 consecutive put ins but GHK couldn't turn the pressure to their advantage. A penalty to Orkney for offside was cleared to GHK's 22.
GHK stole the ball in a maul and moved the ball wide but a poor miss pass couldn't find Rory Love and the chance was lost. Orkney missed another penalty in 31 mins from 30 metres but Andrew Fleming seemed to have mastered the wind with a well directed penalty for GHK on 36 mins to put GHK in the lead 5 - 6.
A good chip kick and take by Andrew Fleming on GHK's 22 with John Shannon continuing the break in good support might have produced more but the inside pass found a covering Orkney player and the resultant loose play took Orkney back to GHK's 22. GHK again disrupted Orkney scrummage and lineout and worked their way back down the pitch. Another penalty to GHK . Andrew Fleming produced another excellent kick from close to the touch line some 35 metres out to give GHK a 5 - 9 lead at half time.
Greg Woolard came on for Alan Tilston at blind side and Andrew Fleming moved to stand off with John Shannon taking a breather.
Orkney started the 2nd half strongly, kicking a penalty from half way to the corner for a lineout on 5 metres. A tap penalty taken by Orkney was held up but the ball was retained and fed left with the centre breaking Andrew Fleming's tackle for an unconverted score. 12 - 9 to Orkney in 46 mins. Mike Borthwick was penalised for a late tackle on the scorer and Orkney were presented with a penalty restart on halfway. Orkney missed the kick at goal , which fell short, but the ball wasn't cleared properly and Orkney kept the pressure on. A good lineout take by GHK and clearance by Mike Aird followed by further good interplay and a nice kick and chase by Rory Love took GHK further up the field but the respite didn't last for long as Orkney used the conditions well to repeatedly put the ball back in to GHK's 22.
GHK had to fight hard to get out of their own half but stuck to the task and a penalty to GHK on 63 mins some 30 metres out was again slotted by Andrew Fleming to make it 12 - 12.
Hugh Parker twinged his hammy and Alan Tilston came back on to middle row.Tommy Horton came on at prop to give Cammy McLay a breather and Danny Campbell came on to the right wing,with Tony Herron replacing Andy Shedden in the centre.
GHK got another penalty in 65 mins which was again converted to give GHK a 12 - 15 lead. It seemed that every time GHK got within striking distance of the Orkney line points were being scored. The problem was that GHK were spending too much time defending in their own 22. Orkney missed another penalty in 67 mins but made amends in 70 mins to make it 15 - 15.
A penalty to GHK just inside the Orkney half found a good touch just inside their 22. A good take and drive from the lineout looked promising as GHK had the ball under control and Gordi Reid burst through with support and headed for the line. The referee must have thought the ball was stuck in the maul and perceiving no advantage to GHK gave a free kick to GHK just as Gordi Reid found the gap. GHK tapped and ran but it was all a bit lateral and a pass was dropped. To compound the situation the Orkney full back, who had a good game throughout, ran the next play and broke a tackle to run 65 metres before a last ditch tackle by Tony Herron 5 metres from the GHK line. Orkney were awarded a penalty which was quickly tapped and GHK did well to hold up on the line. However from the resultant scrum the Orkney scrum half twisted and turned to the right and spun out of a tackle to score an unconverted try. 20 - 15 to Orkney with only a few minutes remaining.
In the dying seconds GHK made a break out of their 22 but what looked like a good kick ahead by Danny Campbell bounced against the wind in to touch. Orkney secured the lineout and GHK were penalised in the ruck. Orkney kicked to touch. Game over 20 - 15 to Orkney.

VP

PS. The well kent face and good friend of Anniesland rugby, Rev Fraser MacNaughton ( Minister of St Magnus Cathedral) extended his pastoral duties to running the line for Orkney. Having previously been coach,President and chief bottle washer,it is clear that Orkney rugby is in good hands with the Club playing a very active role in the wider community.We look forward to welcoming Orkney to OA on 11 December.

This article was posted on 20-Sep-2010, 21:53 by Hugh Barrow.