Orkney/Caithness V Garnock

The Orkney/Caithness Under18 team played Garnock a team from Ayrshire in the Semi Final of the National Bowl Competition, the visitors had undertaken an over 300 mile road trip on Friday and intended staying in the County for two nights showing great commitment to age group Rugby.

Saturday started in disastrous fashion for the home side when word came that the Pentland Firth ferries were storm bound resulting in the seven Caithness members of the squad being unable to make the crossing. After great deal of phoning around by the boys and the willingness of some carrying injuries but still willing to play eventually 17 made it for the 12.30 kick off.

The game started on a very windy Centre Pitch that was in first class condition with Garnock showing that they were a very good well drilled team who had made the long journey with the intention of giving everything. After five minutes play they opened the scoring with a try, the conversion being missed the wind making kicking very difficult. The visitors continued to make it very difficult for the home side that had to defend in numbers.

Eventually with thirty minutes gone Orkney started to get into the game resulting in a try by forward Dylan Evans converted by Sam Croy. This slender lead did not last as right on half time Garnock scored another unconverted try giving them a 10-7 half time lead.

The second half commenced with Orkney on the attack and Douglas Murray a recent recruit to the team scoring an unconverted try giving the home team a slender lead. This did not last for long as the visitors started to take the upper hand and scored two unconverted tries giving them a 8 point lead with 15 minutes remaining.

This set back seemed to make the home side up their game and resulted in Robbie Hay bursting through the defence to score a try that reduced the arrears. Now having the majority of the possession they could sense that a big effort was needed. The team captain Sam Croy supplied the killer punch with a try that he converted to a roar from the sizeable crowd. Garnock tried to get back into the game but the home team held out for a very good 24-20 victory

This win puts the team through to a Final at Murrayfield on the 29th of November against Dundee Eagles.