We flew in to Kirkwall Airport after an 80 minute flight on a crystal clear day, with a light breeze, with an acceptable hour and a half to prepare for the match. It was agreed that this was the perfect way to travel there, short journey, fresh, and ready to show Orkney that the city boys could play a fast and expansive game.

Although we have a strong record of visiting Kirkwall, mainly in tours there in the 70’s and 80’s, the last game was in 2002 in a league match, which we actually won 8-23. The name of the late Derek Guthrie arose on several occasions, obviously having left quite a mark up there. We were unable to meet Rev Fraser MacNaughton, Academical and Minister at St Magnus Cathedral, who was the coach of the Orkney Ladies Rugby Team, and who were playing that day in Banff!

This Orkney team are a popular lot, as there were some 250 home support to see their team on what was a magnificent surface for running rugby. Were Accies going to miss the absence of Ryan Sweeney, our quality No8, who was away on Scotland age group duties, or our fast evasive full back, Ross Cowan?

The game kicked off with Accies playing into a light air by Kirkwall standards but in reality a stiff wind. Right from the start Accies forwards set up quick ball recycling left then right, forcing Orkney back into their 22. From these movements, Josh Waldin made a blisteringly quick break from a loose ruck down the blindside, drew two men and floated a beautifully weighted pass for Ruaridh Hood to cruise in on the corner. After 7 minutes, this was just the start Accies needed, and just what the travelling 10 faithful Accie supporters were wanting. This start was evidence that there wasn’t any jet lag in the Accie team. Difficult conversion missed by Stewart Gray into the strong breeze.

Accies ahead 0 – 5

Accies regained possession at the kick off and for the next 10 minutes played sparkling simple rugby testing the Orkney defence, driving them back into their 22. With Josh Waldin’s impressive pace at scrum half and Stewart Gray at stand off looking confident with ball in hand, this had the hallmarks of an entertaining game. On the 18 minute mark, Waldin again broke at speed from the loose ruck down the centre, drawing the initial defence, linking beautifully with an incisive run from full back Chris Mathie who broke clean through virtually under the posts. Conversion by Gray made.

Accies ahead 0 – 12

Accies simply didn’t let this Orkney team get back into the game with the pack taking on the forwards at every opportunity. Our scrum was in total dominance, but that only reflected in disrupting Orkney ball, whilst on another day they might have received more penalty awards. At 30 minutes, again Accies were back in the Orkney 22 when Accies worked hard to disrupt and drive back their scrum. With the ball squirting out, the ever alert Ker Malcolm pounced on it to sprint in from 15 yards to score in the corner. Difficult conversion missed by Stewart Gray into the strong breeze.

Accies ahead 0 – 17

The visiting support, although small in number, were loud in praise of their team, although it was maybe due to receiving on the touchline, several shots of Kirkjuvagr Gin who were sponsoring today’s match.

This Orkney side are a useful outfit, and for the next 15 minutes the game ebbed and flowed around the middle section of the pitch with the big Orkney pack now managing to retain possession more successfully. With five minutes before half time, they made a rare break through the centre linking up with the pack, and with a succession of forwards thrusts and despite sterling Accie defence, they drove over under the posts for a forwards try. Despite being under the posts, the young stand off somehow missed his conversion, which cannot have given Orkney much reassurance that the fightback was indeed on.

Accies ahead 5 – 17

Half-time 5 –17

The second half started similarly to the last quarter of the first half where the Orkney forwards stuck to their task in the loose as their scrum was under huge pressure. Firstly the game has to be won, but the task for Accies was to retain concentration and the fourth try and bonus point was in sight. Although there was no scoring in the third quarter of the game, on several occasions, there were some scintillating Accies breaks with forwards linking up well at pace with the backs. With Waldin again controlling the game darting everywhere, we may have broken clean through on more than one occasion with some very marginal forward pass decisions going against Accies.

This was frustrating in itself, but this side weren’t going to let up their effort and their patience was rewarded when on the 60 minute mark, from an Accie scrum in the centre of the pitch on the Orkney 10m line the ball was fed out the open side to Gray at standoff who drew his man with class to flick a half pass to the blind side winger Hood, who had appeared from nowhere, to slice through the Orkney defence to touch down under the posts for his second try. Gray conversion taken. This was clearly a training ground move and a joy to watch.

Accies ahead 5 – 24

Again when you think the opposition should be capitulating, this gritty Orkney side played to their strengths, and managed to put in some good work clawing their way into the Accies 22. It was slow but effective and with 10 minutes to go. They eventually broke through the middle and scored under the posts. Conversion made, this time.

Accies ahead 12 – 24

Accies had been far more dominant than the score suggested, and back down to the Orkney 22 they went with forwards driving well in small units. With five minutes to go, this sustained pressure produced the perfect result when tight head prop Josh Scott, who had been in impressive form in the scrum and in the tackle all day, picked up in broken play from 7m out and charged over the line taking several Orkney defenders with him. Difficult conversion missed by Stewart Gray with a strong cross breeze.

Accies ahead 12 – 29

Full-time

Accies had managed to demonstrate that they are indeed a well drilled and exciting team to watch. On this form, and on a perfect pitch they are well worthy of their current third place position or even higher. Josh Waldin shone out at scrum half with quality distribution and scintillating pace on the break and was well worthy of Man of the Match award. Captain Stewart Gray was interviewed by BBC Orkney at the end of the game and gave a very good account of himself and was a credit to the Club. Post match hospitality was out of the top drawer and many connections and fond memories of Academicals past and present were mentioned.

Referee: Iain Morrison from Glasgow

Reporter Iain Smith

If you know of any friends who would like to be included in the match report circulation please just send me their email address and I will add them in.

Again many thanks to all who came out to support the team and we look forward to seeing you all again at New Anniesland on the 1st of April when we will be hosting Haddington RFC.

3.00pm kick off.