Green Machine face fixture backlog
BT West Division 1 Oban Lorne P
Carrick P SATURDAY’S match between Oban Lorne and Carrick was postponed as a mark of respect to well-known club member Bruce Smith, who sadly passed away last week. Bruce was a proud father of sons Cameron and Struan, who turn out every week for Oban Lorne. Thoughts of all were within the Oban Lorne family are with Heather, Cameron, Struan and Nicola.
The Green Machine will hope to get back to winning ways this Saturday with an away trip to bottom placed Garnock RFC.
Oban Lorne lost in disappointing fashion away to Lenzie in their first game of 2016 and will be hoping for a much-needed win to take a firm hold on the top half of the table.
The team are on the brink of a fixture headache going into the second half of the season with 11 league games still to play.
Training continues every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7pm at Glencruitten.
BT West Division 4 Argyll and Bute P
Hyndland P ARGYLL and Bute were again left frustrated on Saturday as Hyndland RFC failed to make the trip to Oban for the West Division 4 game.
Argyll, like Oban Lorne, have only played one fixture in 2016. This Saturday Argyll host league leaders Police Scotland in Oban. Kick- off 2pm.
BT Women’s National League
Division 1 Oban Lorne Ladies 5
Ayr Ladies 56 THE CLOUDS cleared for a brief spell of reasonable playing conditions on a waterlogged pitch at North Connel. The first game to be played for around three months and intermittent training over the festive season, this was definitely one for dusting off the festive cobwebs and refocusing everyone’s heads into game mode.
Oban ladies were once again joined by a few players from development team Helensburgh, who they have been building bridges with to increase everyone’s game time. With Ayr sitting top of the league, the girls in green knew they were up against tough opposition and it was quickly obvious that they were a fit and well- drilled squad, travelling with a team of 16 players, including a well-rehearsed back line and some strong individual runners.
In the opening few minutes of the game, Oban were quick to assert their dominance and prove they would put up a fight.
However, despite having the majority of the possession, they spent a lot of time in their own half, allowing Ayr to exploit small handling errors and drive the ball over the line in the right hand corner after only five minutes of play. This was the nature of the first half, with Oban exerting constant pressure on the Ayr attack to force forward passes and knock ons, but still struggling to make ground themselves.
The main game plan for Ayr appeared to be drawing the Oban defence into the centre to create space for themselves on the right wing, where six of their tries were to be scored.
Oban centre Kirsty Sinclair made a very convincing break up the left wing, only for Ayr to capitalise on missed pick-ups to secure turnover ball.
Green Army prop Ellie MacNiven took a knock to the head and left the park for the recommended five minutes’ rest, whilst Ayr scored once again in the same corner, with 13 players against 12. The next three tries were all scored under the posts in quick succession after breakaway runs by the speedy Ayr scrum half, bringing the half time score to 0-34.
Oban did well to come back fighting and not let their heads drop after the half time break. It took only two minutes to drive the ball over the line, with a try for inside centre Julie Campbell after repeated rucking by the strong forward pack.
Good covering tackles into touch were made by stand- off Emma Roxburgh and chasing runs by scrum half Audrey Barr and Sinclair, however, spurred on by Oban’s try, Ayr’s handling and speed proved too much, scoring twice again to demonstrate their higher level of experience and fitness (5- 44).
After another knock to the head, MacNiven left the pitch permanently with 15 minutes left to play leaving the final numbers at 12 aside, and two impressive runs by Ayr number 17 to score twice under the posts in the closing minutes of the game brought the final score to 56-5.
Oban put up a fight right to the end of the game but, with new players on the pitch and lots of cobwebs to clear out after the long break, they proved no match for the current league champions.
Player of the match was awarded to Julie Campbell, who came back from absence to play out of position in the back line, demonstrating some strong crash balls in attack and an equally solid defence. The Oban Ladies are at home once again next Sunday, this time against the Aberdeenshire Quines.
The ladies train every Wednesday at the Oban Rugby Clubhouse from 6- 8pm, with beginners very welcome.
Mini rugby OBAN Lorne and Etive Vikings Mini Rugby sections are hosting an indoor festival in Atlantis Leisure this Sunday. All clubs in the area have been invited to attend.
The festival will be running from 12.30-3pm in the main hall.
S1/S2 rugby OBAN’S S1/2 fixture away to Mull was postponed on Saturday due to the weather. A new date will be arranged for the fixture.
Under 15 girls OBAN U15 Girls hosted Ayr in the Scottish Cup on Wednesday.
In a thrilling encounter Oban narrowly lost out by 45-39.
Tries were scored by Grace Thompson (4), Eilidh Shearer, Isla Head and Kelsey Whitlow.
Special mention was made of all girls who played their first competitive game for the team.