Orkney set for feast of rugby sevens

May 4, 2018 at 11:21 am

The Orkney Rugby Sevens returns once more to the county’s playing fields.

Orkney’s sporting community will be treated with a feast of rugby sevens, while the county’s hockey side are gunning for a fourth Scottish District Cup during the weekend.

One of the highlights of the local sporting calendar, the Orkney Rugby Sevens — now in its 51st year — returns once more, with 18 sides competing for the coveted title.

Last year’s champions Hearts and Balls will attempt to defend their trophy, competing alongside three other sides from south — Grangemouth, Peebles and RAF Lossiemouth Owls.

The local sides feature the traditional mixture of serious and more ‘social’ outfits, in what is one of the most popular days in Orkney sport.

The festival of rugby will kick-off in the morning with Orkney Rugby Club’s youth sections, while there will also be a women’s tournament.

The youth sections kick-off the action at 10am on Saturday, while the men’s tournament is scheduled to start at 12.30pm at Picky. The women’s tournament is due to start at 1pm.

In hockey, the Kirkwall Ladies Challenge Cup will also be held on Saturday, starting at 11am, at the Picky hockey pitch.

Also in hockey, the Orkney side is also in the hunt for silverware, taking on Edinburgh University Ladies 4s in the final of the Scottish District Cup on Sunday.

Orkney, who are gunning for their fourth success in the tournament and are the defending champions, will start the match as favourites against a side competing in their first national final.

The match is part of National Finals Day, at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow, and pass-back is set for 12 noon.

Also on Sunday, The Orcadian Parish Cup returns, with Stromness beginning the defence of their crown in the Queen O’ The Isles.

The defending champions travel to Westray, with the home side sure to provide a stern test.

The match, which starts at 1pm, is the stand-out tie on a jam-packed Sunday for the county’s Parish Cup enthusiasts, with Deerness hosting Holm at 3pm and Birsay taking on Firth in Dounby at 7pm.

Orkney’s motocross riders will tackle Northfield in Burray once more on Sunday, racing for the Thorpe Shields.