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.