Long Trip to Orkney

The team made its way North on Friday afternoon in two mini busses, staying overnight in John o Groats before taking the ferry to Orkney. In a breezy but sunny afternoon Ellon kicked off and within 2 minutes Orkney had scored and Ellon knew it was going to be a long game! The tries kept coming and it was 24 – 0 before Dobson slotted over a long penalty for Ellon. Ellon pack played excellently with good scrumaging and lineouts, but the tackling in the back line led to a 45 – 3 half time score. With the change in ends, the fortunes changed a little also, as Ellon scored the first try of the second half. After a great break by Jimmy Young, then Stuart Hackett, and a drive for the line by forwards coach (playing hooker) Ryan Morrice, the ball came back for scrum half Parker to score. Orkney then repeatedly gave penalties away, and were very lucky not to receive a yellow card, and Craig McIntyre scored to make it 45 – 15. Once again Orkney were penalised repeatedly and Ellon won three scrums against the head, however with the back line being drawn in and missing tackles the score became 76 – 15. One final play of the match and some good backs hands led to 18 year old Josh Walker running in a 40 m try and using his strength to score in the corner on his first Senior start. Final score was 76 – 20. The team and head coach Duaine Lindsay had a long journey back to Ellon on the Sunday to start thinking about St Andrews at Ellon this Saturday. The team will be boosted with a number of players available and a new Stand-off, Jake Willis, arriving from New Zealand this week.