|
News Article |
| MORAY U16 V DEESIDE - CALLY CUP ¼ FINAL |
| Tue 22nd Mar 2011 |
 Moray met Deeside at Morriston on Sunday to play their Cally cup quarter final match.
This was always going to be a tough game with Deeside unbeaten in league fixtures this season and also on an excellent run in the National cup competition. However Moray were in a positive frame of mind after their fine win over Highland last month
The game kicked off in perfect conditions and both teams settled quickly. The player’s organisation and focus showed with no scoring early in the match as they tried to find weak points in their opposite numbers.
 Moray were performing well in lineout’s but were under a bit of pressure in the scrum. Their forwards were rucking well but guilty on several occasions of not retaining the ball after winning the initial hit in the ruck. The Moray backs threatened through moving the ball through hands to their wingers but Deeside were managing to cover these attacks. Deeside had several forays into the Moray 22 but were conceding penalties which allowed Moray to easily clear with some good kicking from hand by Duncan Steven
Moray eventually opened the scoring on 24 minutes with a superb penalty kick by Ewan Stuart after an infringement by Deeside at a ruck. The kick was well placed in the centre of the pitch but near the 10 m line and Ewan struck it firmly straight between the posts.
Moray moved up a gear after this and began to put Deeside under considerable pressure. Kieran Cowie made a fine break up the wing after picking up a clearance kick and was unfortunate not to make it count due to lack of support.
Ewan Stuart also had a great chance as he sped onto a loose ball between the Deeside centres but was unable to control it and knocked on with the line in sight and undefended. The Moray forwards were also a threat with Aarron
Logan back from injury particularly impressive in loose play. One forward drive crossed the line but the ball was held up.
Half Time Moray 3 Deeside 0
 The second half opened with Deeside receiving the ball and after a couple of phases they broke up Moray’s right wing and some offloading led to a try in the corner. The conversion from out wide was missed but Deeside had their first points on the board and the game was very much back on.
Shortly after Deeside were again putting Moray under pressure and their forwards drove the ball into the Moray 22. Moray conceded a penalty and Deeside took a quick tap and moved the ball out to score a try. The kick was converted to make the score Moray 3 Deeside 12.
Moray raised their game again after these setbacks and had a man advantage after Deeside’s scrum half was sin binned for an infringement at a ruck. The Moray scrum also became more secure and they had more quality ball to work with. Kieran Faulkner in his new role at scrum half was coping well and kept good ball going to the Moray backs.
 Moray got a penalty near the half way line after a ruck and Lewis Scott tapped and quickly set off up the pitch. He was supported by several Moray players and with offloads they were soon up to the Deeside line. Hal Endersby and
then Gillies Munro were on hand to finish the move with a try near the Deeside corner flag. The conversion was missed but Moray were right back in the game with around 10 minutes to go. Score Moray 8 Deeside 12
 Deeside were not to be denied though. They won a penalty at a lineout and took a quick tap and moved the ball through their backs hands quickly and scored a final try which was converted.
Moray could not find a way to drag themselves back into the game and it finished Moray 8 Deeside 19.
The Moray team can be proud of their achievement in getting this far in the top flight of the Cally Cup competition and competing so well for long periods of this game. Missing Cally players and several others they fought bravely and might have won if they’d managed to score from chances created especially in the first half. After a hard season the team has made huge steps forward in terms of fitness and their abilities on the pitch and the challenge is to build on this and achieve more next season.
|
| Back to Junior News |
|
n
Caledonia 2 North |
|
|
|
| Aberdeenshire |
12 |
46 |
| Highland 2nd XV |
11 |
46 |
| Moray |
12 |
40 |
| Ross Sutherland |
10 |
22 |
| Banff |
12 |
19 |
| Mackie |
10 |
10 |
| Aberdeen Grammar 2nd XV |
9 |
1 |
|
Last 1st XV Game |
| 1st XV Season (2021/22) |
| Banff 33 - 39 Moray |
| 5th Mar 22 - KO: 15:00 |
| Venue: Duff House |
|
