Rugby round-up . . . rugby round-up . . .
Oban Lorne 1st XV
OBAN Lorne had a weekend off from league duty with no scheduled fixture on Saturday due to Scotland’s Autumn International Test against Samoa at BT Murrayfield.
The men in green are not back in action until the end of the autumn test series where they will face Argyll rivals and fellow West Division 1 strugglers Helensburgh on Saturday December 2.
It has been a disappointing season so far for Oban Lorne who currently occupy 11th place in the league but could jump into mid table with a much-needed win.
A combination of injuries and a loss of several key players has left coach Corrie Louw with a much smaller squad to choose from than in recent seasons. The team were buoyed this week with a coaching session on Tuesday evening with former SRU Coach Chris Reid who led a very enjoyable session for both the men’s and ladies’ 1st XV.
Oban Lorne RFC will be showing Scotland’s two remaining autumn test matches versus New Zealand and Australia live on the clubhouse big screen - everyone is welcome.
Mitsibushi Motors West U18 Conference Oban Lorne U18s P Kilmarnock U18s P
Saturday’s U18 clash was postponed as league leaders Kilmarnock failed to raise a team for the journey to Oban. The late call-off came as much frustration to the Oban players and coaches with the team having their strongest squad of the season available. Oban have been given the league points for the game which propels them into fourth place in the U18 conference.
The team will be hoping to continue their good form from recent games as they travel to Glasgow this Saturday to face fellow mid table side Cambuslang RFC.
Saturday’s hosts won a close 21-12 fixture at Glencruitten earlier in the year and the same is expected on Saturday.
U17 Friendly Festival at Lochaber postponed
Sunday’s U17 10-a-side festival hosted by Lochaber RFC in Fort William was postponed due to an unplayable pitch at Lochaber’s Banavie ground. This was a blow for Oban who had a strong squad of young U18s and older U16 squad players to form a formidable team. Hopefully this festival can be rearranged for a date later in the season.
Mitsibushi Motors West U13 and U14 Conference Oban U13s & U14s P Ardrossan P
In keeping with the general theme of the weekend, Oban Lorne’s U13 and U14 teams were left without a game as Ardrossan failed to travel for the fixtures.
With two squads of players ready for the games, both players and coaches were left disappointing at the outcome given the glorious weather conditions on Sunday meant the games could have gone ahead.
These fixtures can hopefully be rearranged for later in the season.
Oban’s U13 and U14 teams are away to Kilmarnock this Sunday.
Mitsibushi Motors West U16 League Oban Lorne U16s v Kilmarnock
Oban’s U16 team play their last fixture of the league season on Sunday at home to Kilmarnock.
A win would secure second place in the league for Oban who have won every game apart from last week’s 42-0 loss against league leaders Stewartry.
West Girls Conference East Kilbride 15 Oban Lorne U15 Girls 21
Oban Lorne U15 girls continued their busy run of fixtures as they traveled with a large squad of 14 players to take on East Kilbride on Sunday. Despite going three tries down early in the game Oban raced back to win 21-15 with Jordan MacIntyre and Poppy McKillop among the try scorers.
The U15 girls’ side have improved with every fixture this season taking on some formiddable opponents.
This Sunday the U15 girls host Highland at Glencruitten for the first meeting between the two sides.
T4 Schools Conference Eastwood High School v Oban High School
OBAN High School played their latest T4 Schools Conference fixture last week where they faced teams from Eastwood High School in Newton Mearns. The fixtures were played in the playing grounds of Whitecraigs RFC.
Fixtures were played at U13 and U14 boys along with the U15 Girls.
Oban came out on top in the U13 boys’ fixture by five tries to three with Louie MacFarlane, Gregor Warnock and Fergus Taylor all impressing in the team’s first win of the season.
There was also success in the girls’ U15 fixture where Oban ran out comfortable winners by 21 tries to 8.
The U14s failed to recover from two scores down at halftime as they were beaten four tries to two despite a better second half showing.
Chris Paterson holds CPD kicking session
OBAN Lorne RFC were fortunate enough to host one of Scottish Rugby’s pro coach master classes with former Scotland fullback, captain and record points holder Chris Paterson travelling west to deliver a CPD session in kicking to a group of enthusiastic coaches and players.
The event was well attended with around 15 coaches in attendance from Oban Lorne RFC, Mid Argyll RFC & Etive Vikings RFC along with a group of young players from Oban High School.
The club would like to thank Chris for a fantastic course.