JUNIOR RUGBY
REPORT
Stornoway RFC v
Caithness
Stornoway Rugby Club travelled to Caithness at the weekend
with an Under 16 side and a 1st Year side supplemented with four 2nd
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 1st year team. Caithness had a mixture of 1st and 2nd
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 2nd 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.
