S1 Ellon Rugby v ORKNEY

S1 played first with a 10:00 kick off. Traveling with 13 players Ellon match to make a 13 a side game with 4 subs to be shared between both teams. Orkney started off the better team, reclaiming the kick and after one phase scoring on the left. On the restart Ellon fought back up the pitch but a handling error meant turn over ball and the Orkney Centre collected the ball and went over for his second try. Both conversions had been missed as the kicker rushed to take them. This proved costly at the end of the game. This try showed Orkney’s plan as the center was the tallest, fastest and strongest player they had and was the one they looked to give the ball to. Ellon came back with some great phases up the middle of the pitch, passing wider, but the wide players kept cutting back into the middle of the pitch, where the large Orkney pack were based. Pushing forward Ellon used the second row and Dylan Kemp at 8 to move up the pitch, scoring close to the posts. Conversion was missed also. There was exchanges of tries now as both teams pushed forward. Over the next two thirds, both teams were fairly even, but Ellon started to focus on the number 12. Double marking him and needing both players to bring him down. Also in attack Ellon actively avoided this player, creating more play for Ellon. However it was the turn overs at the tackle and rucks by Kemp and Adam Fowlie that got the ball back to Ellon, with Logan Vavangas passing at 9 and Ben Dickie’s great lines carving Orkney defence. The Ellon scrum also won three against the head. With 2 minutes left Orkney were leading by 1 points in a tit for tat final third, where the lead changed three times. Pushing hard up the pitch from a scrum that Ellon won against the head, Ellon scored in the corner to win the game by one point. There were missed conversions for both teams, but the Orkney missed kicks cost the game and both teams scored 6 tries, while Ellon made three conversions to Orkney’s two. A great close game that both teams learnt a lot from. 21 – 20.