Reds score 6 tries against Orkney!

Newton Stewart RFC welcomed Orkney RFC to Bladnoch Park last weekend, far-travelled visitors who arrived looking remarkably fresh despite their long journey. The Reds have enjoyed an unbeaten run so far season and were hopeful of maintaining this record, but conscious also of the strength of the Orkney pack.
With barely ten minutes on the clock Newton Stewart opened the scoring when winger Jamie Muir made a superb break up the right wing before off-loading to centre Fraser Morton (capt) who was running a superb supportive line. Morton then ran in the try under the posts before converting too for a 7-0 lead.
With the restart Orkney took possession and pushed forward to challenge the Reds’ defences. The referee penalised Newton Stewart for not rolling away from the tackle and Orkney kicked for the points, narrowing the lead to 7-3.
Just a few minutes later Newton Stewart were on the attack once more. Second row William McCornick made a big carry from midfield. A one-on-one encounter with the Orkney scrum-half saw the latter on the receiving end of one of McCornick’s devastating trademark hand-offs. There was only one winner here and he galloped in to score a second try for the Reds. Fraser Morton converted once again.
Orkney responded determinedly and looked to counter once again. Some careless mistakes from Newton Stewart allowed the visitors more opportunities than they should perhaps have had, particularly in the line-outs. It was an offside offence however which gave Orkney their next shot at goal, and they took it, taking the score to 14-6.
With half and hour on the clock Orkney were awarded another penalty when the Reds were deemed offside again. Their fullback Linklater proved his kicking talent by making it three for three and putting his team back in the game at 14-9.
As the clock ticked down towards half-time Newton Stewart started to find some greater fluidity and maintained possession better. Winger Liam Brawls and full-back Russell Morton broke up the left touchline before finding stand-off David Gaw on their inside to receive the pass which would put him in to score right on the whistle. This was Gaw’s first start for the 1st XV and this try topped off an assured performance from the 18-year old. Fraser Morton added the extras once again for a half-time lead of 21-9.
After the restart there was a period of relative stalemate, with a lot of midfield battle taking place. Orkney were strong in the scrums and punished the Reds a little here, however the defensive effort from Newton Stewart remained solid and the visitors struggled to make any real headway.
Two penalties in quick succession for Newton Stewart allowed them to kick to touch and establish some field position. The second line-out was right on the Orkney 5-metre line and so the Reds secured the ball, set up a driving maul, and rumbled over before hooker Thomas MacDonald touched the ball down for the bonus point try. The conversion was added once again by Fraser Morton who had an excellent day in front of the posts.
Another score followed quickly after for Newton Stewart when Russell Morton displayed some outrageous, but justified, confidence! Beating four Orkney players with a combination of pace, strength and a quick directional change, Morton ran in a superb solo effort under the posts for his brother to convert once more.
Just as the Reds felt they might run away with the match altogether Orkney set off in attack once again. Working their way patiently through the phases, they pushed doggedly towards the Newton Stewart try line. There were some sizable forwards in the visiting team and they did their jobs, breaking down the Reds defences who simply could not stop them at close range, their tight-head prop eventually scoring the try to bring the score to 35-16.
As the game reached it’s conclusion Newton Stewart had the final say. Using the blind-side effectively, winger David Adams broke up the left wing before passing back inside for James Wallace to score, the number eight only just returning from injury. No conversion followed this time and the game finished at 40-16.
This was a solid performance from the Reds against a stuffy Orkney side who did not give them all their own way. Stand-off Jack Gaw impressed with his accurate delivery and some textbook tackling, repeatedly felling men many times his size, and James McMiken’s work rate in the back row was noteworthy also.
This week’s Man of the Match was Jamie Muir who has played in several positions of late, but excelled on the right wing in this game, wreaking havoc in the Orkney defences and creating tries in doing so.
Next weekend Newton Stewart will visit Aberdeen to take on Gordonians RFC who have had a strong start to this season and look set to be in the mix at the top of the table at the end of it. This is likely to be the Reds’ toughest fixture to date in this league. Confidence is high in the young squad however and they will make the journey optimistic of bringing home the points.
Team: Russell Morton, Jamie Muir, Calum Gaw, Fraser Morton (capt), Liam Brawls, David Gaw, Jack Gaw, Ross Campbell, Thomas MacDonald, Gavin Freeland, Alan Ferrie, William McCornick, James McMiken, Jason McKie, James Wallace. Subs: David Adams, Robbie McCornick, Martin Wallace, Richard Fiskin.