Rugby report (SYRFC/Nicolson SoR) 12/9/15

JUNIOR RUGBY REPORT

Stornoway RFC v Caithness

Stornoway Rugby Club travelled to Caithness at the weekend with an Under 16 side and a 1^st Year side supplemented with four 2^nd Year players. The under 16’s knew they were in for a tough match against a side packed with Cale Academy players. Although well beaten they stuck to the task, improving through the match. The only real plus from the match was a good showing in the scrums. It was a battered and bruised group of players that made the long journey home.

The first year game was much more competitive and raised a lot of excitement on the touchlines. The Stornoway boys were playing their first ever rugby match and began the first of three 15 minute sessions with an all 1^st year team. Caithness had a mixture of 1^st and 2^nd year boys, with their No.8 in particular towering over the young Stornoway side.

Caithness quickly scored 2 tries as the Stornoway boys struggled to tackle the big No.8 in open space. The Caithness coach encouraged his bigger players to pass the ball more to bring others into the game, which helped to make the game more competitive. The first session ended 2-0 to Caithness.

All subs five subs were brought on for the second session to ensure everyone got an opportunity to test their skills. Another competitive session of play, with the bigger 2^nd year’s helping even out the size difference between the teams. The session ended 2-0 to Caithness although Stornoway threatened the line on a couple of occasions.

After some more changes, including some positional changes, the final session saw Stornoway put on their best display of the day. The passing was crisper, the tackling was more confident and the all-round understanding of the game was greatly improved. Nathanael Millar and Stuart Macphee scored two superb team tries. A brilliant break by Benjamin Macdonald almost produced a third try but he was caught just short of the line by Caithness’s speedy winger.

A good start for the boys, and this have whetted their appetite for more rugby.

Nicolson Institute Shinty- 22/9/15

The Great Glen Shinty Sixes (Article by Mr.Sinclair)

The Nicolson Institute under 16 Shinty team took part for the first time in The Great Glen Shinty Sixes at Drumnadrochit.

Ten teams from various schools in the Highlands took part and they formed two leagues of five teams with the top two teams going on to contest for a place in the final.

The Nicolson took on Kilchuimen High School from Fort Augustus first. They were putting some good moves together but were hit by two late goals and went down 2-0. Their second match was against Kingussie A who were to eventually win third place in the tournament.Kings played some fine shinty and The Nicolson’s defence was no match for them as they succumbed 7-0 .

Coach Iain “Diablo” Sinclair then regaled the team with one of his inspirational team talks urging his troops to show the true potential he knew they had.

Radical line up changes saw Anil Thapa in goals and Anna MacRae and Scott MacLeod took on defensive duties.Ronan Sinclair went to Full Centre and Captain Ruaraidh MacMillan went up front with Steven Morrison who interchanged with substitute Aidan Millar.

Next opponents were Glenurquhart B who promptly took a 2 goal lead. However as the famous Lewis Camanachd Shinty song goes,"Things began to changy Oh…” and The Nicolson team began to gel. Coach Sinclair urged Scott MacLeod to carry the ball upfield and he launched a screamer from the halfway which nearly burst the net. Minutes later Ruaraidh Macmillan finished off a nice move involving Scott MacLeod and Ronan Sinclair to equalise the scores.

The Nicolson had achieved their first points at the tournament.

Coaches Sinclair and Nally urged the players to keep up their good form and go home with a win. They promptly obliged with a fine performance against Charleston High A from Inverness.

The defence of Thapa, MacRae and MacLeod stood solid and Scott MacLeod’s fine bye hits provided the forwards with plenty ball. Ruaraidh MacMillan’s clinical finishing gave the Nicolson a well deserved 2-0 victory. Aidan Millar and Ronan Sinclair were unlucky not to add to the total.

The Nicolson  finished 3^rd. in their group of 5 teams a great performance for a first outing at the tournament which was celebrating it’s twentieth anniversary.

In the final a strong Lochaber High team won the final against Glenurquhart A 1-0 after extra time. Kingussie A were third with Kilchuimen High taking fourth spot in the 3rd and 4^th place play off.

 Thanks must go also to Lewis Camanachd player Connor Chalmers’ mum Melissa for accompanying the group, taking photos and helping on the sidelines.

Taing Melissa. The squad was:

Anil Thapa, Scott MacLeod, Anna MacRae, Ronan Sinclair ,Ruaraidh MacMillan(Captain), Steven Morrison and Aidan Millar.

The Rectors closing report for the year.


It has been another exceptional year for the school’s football teams with the North of Scotland cups now being held by the Under 14 Boys, the Under 15 Boys, the Junior Girls and the Senior Girls. This is the first time for 12 years that four trophies have been held in the school, and we congratulate the teams and their coaches. A number of the Senior Girls’ team will represent the Western Isles at next week’s Island Games in Jersey. It was no surprise that the school was awarded the TSB school of the Month for last April, and we look forward to more national recognition. One of the most pleasing aspects of the school’s footballing success has been the recognition of the pupils’ exemplary behaviour by referees, opposition and even members of the public.  
The School of Rugby continues to floursh: The S2 SOR beat Plockton in March; four players underwent athletic Ability assessments; and new kit was presented by the SRU.
In swimming, Kara Hanlon is the Scottish 100 and 200 metre breaststroke champion; in the course of the year she defeated Hannah Miley, double Commonwealth champion. We also have very promising swimmers in the Junior school whose exploits we will hear about in the future, I am sure.
Abbie MacKay, Eilidh MacLeod, Andrew Horne, Alasdair Rigby, Ross MacTaggart, Michael MacMillan and Connor Maclean will compete in the Island Games squad in Jersey next week. The school’s athletes have been making a name for themselves, not just locally but nationally, with Michael MacMillan holding the Scottish record at 800 metres in May, Connor MacLean claiming Cross Country gold in Falkirk, Abbie MacKay reaching the 60m national final and a plethora of medals being brought home from the North of Scotland Championships earlier this month. Connor, Michael, Kyle Munro and Scott Maciver all put in fantastic performances in the Macleod and Macleod Pentland Road races. The athletics school session ended on a high with the news yesterday that Eilidh MacLeod has been selected to represent the Scottish Schools at an International event in July.
A Weekly 9 hole medal competition has been held throughout the session on Friday afternoons in association with Stornoway Golf Club.
Over 65 girls have attended a weekly netball club this year and competed in a very successful sports festival in March. 
Andrew Duncan of S6 was named Lewis and Harris Sports’ Council Coach of the Year.
The first competitive outing for the girls' shinty team was at the Scourie Sixes in Sutherland in June. They were unbeaten in four out of their six matches.
The following week two current pupils and one former pupil completed the Camanachd Association Foundation level coaching course.

At the end of a busy and crowded year of sport, we congratulate our sports stars and their coaches and thank them for all the hard work, dedication and commitment they show to their sport.

We also have two managers who are associated with the school representing the Western Isles. Eric 'Strada' Macleod is the link active school coordinator for the school and Euan 'Moley' Macledo is the Sports Hub Officer for Lewis.

Name: Eric Macleod
Nickname: Strada
Sport/Discipline: Football
Sporting Hero: Eric Cantona

Best Sporting Achievement: Winning five successive leagues with Sandwick ladies football team.


How are you preparing for the island games?

We train once a week for two hours. the squad members are currently in the middle of their own football season so they are already game read.

What are your targets for the games?

We simply want too be as competitive as we can and enjoy the occasion.

 What are you most looking forward to at the games?


This will be my first games so I am very much looking forward to the experiencing the whole atmosphere and being part of something special.

Name: Euan Macleod
Nickname: Moley
Sport/Discipline: Football (Woman's)
Sporting Hero: Lance Armstrong (NOT!!!)

Best Sporting Achievement:


Player: Scottish Amateur Football vs. France, Spain, Belgium (UEFA Regions), Highland Amateur cup for Back F.C., 3x Natwest island Games for The Western Isles.
Coach: 2015 Natwest island Games, Woman's Football coach.


 How are you preparing for the island games?

Thoroughly!!!

What are your targets for the games?

To ensure our squad is as well prepared as possible.

What are you most looking forward to at the games?


Our squad being able to play competitive games at a high standard. A great reward for their endeavours.

Name: Lynsey Mackenzie
Sport/Discipline: Football
Sporting Hero: Ole Gunnar Solskjær, I actually love him!

Best Sporting Achievement: Being selected for the Island games has got to be up there.


How are you preparing for the island games?


I have been training with the team three times a week, doing fartlek training in my lunch break 3 times a week with Miss Macleod, weights three times a week and been going running.

What are your targets for the games?

My personal targets are to play to the best of my ability. As a team our targets are to get out of our group but the group will be tough.

What are you most looking forward to at the games?


I am looking forward to the whole experience. The opening and closing ceremony and representing my dads birth place and adopted home. We have a great bunch of girls in the team and I am looking forward to sharing the experience with them. Fingers crossed we do well.

Name: Catherine A Macleod

Nickname: I don’t have one

Sport/Discipline: Football

Sporting Hero: I have two – Chris Hoy and Andy Murray. I love them both because they are incredible athletes in different ways.



Best Sporting Achievement: reaching the semi-finals of the last island games in the Isle of Wight. Although we lost the bronze medal game to Greenland 1-0, it was an incredible achievement for a team who don’t play regular 11 a side football to make the semi-finals of an international competition. 


How are you preparing for the island games?


I am working on my fitness by doing Fartlek training every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the school gyms at lunchtime. I then have football training with the team every Tuesday night, Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. 

What are your targets for the games? It would be great to make it out of the group and into the semi-finals again, but this is a huge ask given that we have Isle of Man and Gotland in our group who have both won silver medals at previous island games. I think a realistic target is to win two out of our four games.



What are you most looking forward to at the games?


We have worked hard as a team over the last three years to prepare for this competition so I am very much looking forward to putting all of this training into action on the pitch. I am also looking forward to the whole experience of just being at the games – it is great to support other athletes who are in the Western Isles squad competing in other sports and it’s also good to meet athletes from other parts of the world. 

Name: Graeme Mackenzie
Sport/Discipline: Football

Sporting Hero:

Best Achievement in Sport:

Winning bronze medal with the Men's football team at Rhodes 2007 World Island Games

How are you preparing for the Island Games?

Training with The Western Isles Men's Football Team and playing for Lochs FC.

What are your targets for the games?

To give our best efforts and perform well in a different group

What are you most looking forward to at the games?

Playing Jersey. They are the host team and we're playing at the best football ground on the island, hopefully in front of a large crowd. They also have former Aston Villa manager Brian Little as their Head Coach.

Mr Murray mid tackle (middle) playing for Lochs FC.



Name: Andy Murray
Sport/Discipline: Football

Sporting Hero: Zinedine Zidane

Best Achievement in Sport:

Winning two Highland Amateur medals

How are you preparing for the Island Games?

Playing for Lochs twice a week and training with the men's football squad once per week Also attending the gym/swimming pool when possible.

What are your targets for the games?

To enjoy the experience and play to the best of our ability against two of the best teams in the tournament.

What are you most looking forward to at the games?

Playing against the host team Jersey in opening game of the tournament at the main stadium in front of a large evening crowd. The atmosphere will be great to play in.

Congratulations to Addison who are House Champions this year, Macrae pushed them all the way.
Sutherland came from behind and powered their way to the be the winners of the Tug of War Trophy.


Please see scores below for the S5/6 events and the overall scores.


A big thanks to the pupils who were in very good spiritds throughout the changeable conditions.


Thanks also to the staff who helped organise the events yesterday and to the other staff who dropped in to motivate and see how the pupils were getting on.






 

S5/6	Athletics	Field	Tug o’ War	Assault Course	Totals
Addison	149	164	20	59	382
Forbes	58	120	10	7	195
Gibson	93	152	40	20	305
Macrae	126	148	30	7	311
Sutherland	107	168	50	17	342

 

S1-6 Combined	Athletics	Field	Tug o’ War	Assault Course	Totals
Addison	564	561	125	99	1349
Forbes	366	426	90	94	976
Gibson	323	456	115	60	954
Macrae	502	557	120	93	1272
Sutherland	367	435	150	72	1024

Name: Eachainn Miller
Sport/Discipline: Football

Sporting Hero: Chris Smalling 

 Best Achievement in Sport:

Ex Ross County U17 Player

How are you preparing for the Island Games?

Training regularly, getting fit, eating health and the gym

What are your targets for the games?

Play to the best of my ability.

What are you most looking forward to at the games?

Meeting new people