Doonies win first Ba’ of 2013

The first Ba’ of the year went down at 12.25pm with 15-year-old Taylor Pilkington-Tait from Stenness claiming the boys’ trophy.

The Doonies were in control from the start, edging play gradually down Broad Street before Sam Croy made a decisive break down Albert Street towards the corner with Bridge Street.

Although play halted for almost an hour in the lane between John, Scott and Miller and the Orkney Financial and Property Centre as players fought for control of the ba’ on the ground, once the pack regained their feet the Doonies made steady progress towards the harbour.

In a last gasp effort the Uppies tried to take the scrum up Shore Street away from the basin but the Doonies regained control and surged towards the water, hitting the railings of the harbour at about 12.20pm.

Five minutes later Owen Harcus pulled the ba’ from the pack and fell into the water as the crowd cheered.

After a short struggle Taylor was lifted above the pack with the ba’ in his hands.