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News Article |
| MUNTLY UNDER 13S AND UNDER 14S PUT ORKNEY TO THE SWORD IN TWO EXCITING ENCOUNTERS |
| Mon 19th Sep 2016 |
 A squad of 26 Moray and Huntly RFC U14 and U13s made the long journey to Kirkwall for their second Caledonia North Conference fixture of the season.
The U13s started playing into a healthy wind against a sizeable Orkney opposition.
Despite struggling for early possession they managed to open the scoring, when full-back Tom Letch gathered a loose ball and outflanked the Orkney defence from long range.
Orkney continued to dominate possession; however, they lacked penetration and the excellent line speed and pressure exerted by the Muntly defence paid dividends, when Letch managed to rip the ball free in the tackle and escape to score once more.
 Having worked hard in the first period, Muntly cut loose in the second. Fine interplay down the short side, between fly half Innes Parkin and centre Josh Andrew started the rout, with Parkin scoring and that was soon followed by Andrew adding the first of a quick fire hat-trick; another rip from the tackle and escape down the right to dot down.
This was followed by the try of the game; a very fine team try after quick line-out ball found its way accurately along the back line to Lewis Hay, who ran in to score.
Further defensive pressure in the Orkney 22 led to a Muntly turnover and Andrew dummied to exploit the resulting space and go over for his second.
The second period concluded when Andrew completed his hat-trick from close range after the forwards had strung together several phases of play to leave the Orkney defence in disarray.
 Despite turning back into the breeze for the final period, Muntly continued to dominate; Pressure from second rows Andrew Scott and Gregor Clark allowed props Scott Riach and Euan May to escape down the right flank with Hay in support and this led to a series of rucks, with only stout Orkney tackling keeping Muntly at bay.
The pressure eventually told and Letch completed his hat-trick after sustained forward pressure and excellent service from scrum half George Lunn, set the backs free once more, Hay supplying a sublime final pass.
Winger Roddy Manson was next to join the party, when he spotted and accelerated through space close to the breakdown with his pace carrying him over. Orkney managed a short period of pressure from the re-start; however, a quick turnover ball was followed by a clearing kick, expertly gathered by Manson who then off-loaded to Hay who raced the length of the pitch to score.
 Substitute Euan Willetts concluded the scoring, going over on the blind side from short range, to round off a fine team display characterised by co-ordinated defensive pressure, fine tackling and accurate handling in difficult conditions, by all involved.
Andrew added 7 conversions and Parkin one to give a final score of 41 – 0 (11 Tries 8 Conversions).
Muntly U14s looked to have a sterner task with Orkney having the luxury of a large squad and plenty of substitutes to rotate.
 Immediately from the kick-off Muntly were on the back foot when Ross Arnott went off injured in the first minute and was replaced by Letch. Orkney started well, playing against the wind and with their scrum dominating in the loose; however, they lacked accuracy in the final pass and failed to take advantage.
Solid Muntly defence, particularly from second row Oliver Oakes and centre Frankie Gillespie helped dislodge the ball from Orkney possession; hooker Dylan Price was quick to seize on the ball, show a great turn of foot and dart over from 30 metres.
This pattern of play continued for the remainder of the half with Orkney edging possession, yet lacking accuracy, and Muntly feeding on turnovers.
Excellent scavenging work from second row Jai O’brien and quality service from scrum half Iain Stuart allowed centre Scott Cousar to sidestep the Orkney defence for Muntly’s second.
 Further Orkney pressure followed and relief came in the form of Letch, who after ripping possession in the tackle showed ample pace to sprint in from his own 22.
With the first period coming to a close, it appeared that Muntly may not have done enough playing with the wind; however solid pack work allowed a final try before the break with Letch entering the back line and barging over from 15 meters.
The second half was always going to be a different story with Orkney using the elements to gain territory to go with their possession advantage; Muntly however, had other ideas and drew first blood in the second half.
Improved rucking led to quality ball for fly half Willetts who spotted a fine running line and scythed through the Orkney defence to score.
Stung into action Orkney replied with a score of their own after a couple of barrelling runs.
Regaining possession quickly from the re-start they scored once again via the same route and after some lacklustre Muntly tackling.
 Concern about this sudden dip in form was clear on the faces of both the Muntly players and coaches. However, skipper Archie Wilson then took matters into his own hands after pouncing on loose ball and outstripping the Orkney defence to provide some relief.
Undaunted, Orkney kept pressing and once more crossed in the corner to narrow the gap. This appeared to galvanise Muntly and with their set piece beginning to dominate and their counter-rucking improving, Orkney were struggling to gain any possession at all, let alone the levels that they had enjoyed earlier.
O’Brien then capped a fine performance with an into-out run and sidestep, creating both confusion and space in the Orkney defence allowing him to score.
Not to be outdone, Connor Falcus concluded the scoring with a mazy run taking him from the left flank to score in the right corner, beating at least 5 players, some of them twice.
 It was Muntly’s resilience, teamwork and ability to adapt that had seen them through in the second half, playing some fine team rugby across the entire squad. Falcus also added two conversions for a final score of 26 -9 (8 tries, 2 conversions – 3 tries).
It was a very happy squad that boarded the bus home with all looking forward to nest Saturday and a home fixture v Stornoway (KO 1300 at Morriston Playing Fields, Elgin).
Muntly U13s: Josh Andrew, Rory Cameron, Gregor Clark, Lewis Hay, Tom Letch (c), George Lunn, Euan May, Roddy Manson, Innes Parkin, Scott Riach, Corey Rizza, Andrew Scott, Fraser Whitecross, Euan Willetts
Muntly U14s: Ross Arnott, Duncan Burr, Scott Couser, Conor Falcus, Frankie Gillespie, Callum Hall, Tom Letch, Oliver Oakes, Jai O’Brien, Dylan Price, John Rodwell, Iain Stuart, Euan Willetts , Archie Wilson (c), Craig Young
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Caledonia 2 North |
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| Aberdeenshire |
12 |
46 |
| Highland 2nd XV |
11 |
46 |
| Moray |
12 |
40 |
| Ross Sutherland |
10 |
22 |
| Banff |
12 |
19 |
| Mackie |
10 |
10 |
| Aberdeen Grammar 2nd XV |
9 |
1 |
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Last 1st XV Game |
| 1st XV Season (2021/22) |
| Banff 33 - 39 Moray |
| 5th Mar 22 - KO: 15:00 |
| Venue: Duff House |
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