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News Article |
| MORAY U16 V PERTHSHIRE U16 - 01/04/12 |
| Tue 3rd Apr 2012 |
 Moray u16’s welcomed Perthshire to Morriston on Sunday in their penultimate Champions league match and recorded a well deserved 31-25 win in an evenly matched game.
The visitors kicked off and immediately Moray took the initiative and drove the ball to half way from their own 22. The continued to pile on the pressure and form the line out took the ball up deep into Perthshire’s territory. They won a penalty after a high tackle and prop Niall Ward drove over from 10 m out to open the score after 5 minutes.
The visitors came straight back at Moray from the restart but the danger was cleared with a fine kick by standoff Josh Valentine and it was Moray’s turn to put Perthshire under pressure. Their 10 however put Moray back under the cosh with a huge kick taking play deep into the Moray 22 and from the lineout Perthshire won the ball and moved it through several phases out to their winger who went over in the corner to make it 5 all after 10 minutes.
Perthshire enjoyed a period of pressure after this and went into the lead after 20 minutes after winning a scrum on half way and moving the ball through the backs to their winger who sped round the Moray defence to score in the corner.
 Moray however answered back with an inspired period of domination for the rest of the half. From the restart Josh Valentine at 10 broke the Perth defences and offloaded to Gordon Kelly in support who drove deep into the Perth 22.
Perthshire won a scrum close to their tryline after a knock on but the Moray lads took it against the head and stand off Valentine again broke the Perth defence, offloaded to Jones at centre and then took the return pass to go in under the posts and make it 10 all. Kieran Rodgers converted to give Moray back the lead.
Shortly after this Moray won a penalty on half way and Jones quickly tapped an burst through the defence driving all the way to score under the posts. Rodgers converted to make it 19-10. Moray were not done yet and from the restart Lewis Scott drove upfield setting up a ruck. The ball was moved out to the backs and Jones broke through the Perthshire defence again to score under the posts.
The conversion by Rodgers made it 26-10 to Moray at half time.
Moray kicked off the 2nd half and Perthshire soon had worked their way into the home sides 22. They won a penalty after Moray strayed offside at a ruck and their forwards drove over to score.
 Perthshire continued to hold the upper hand and from a line out they moved the ball out to their centre who cleverly chipped over the Moray defence and their wing sped through to catch the ball and touchdown in the corner making it 26-20.
The game was becoming a tense affair with both teams trying their best to land the killer blow and Moray were unlucky not to stretch their lead after taking a quick penalty and driving right up to the Perthshire try line where wing Spencer Barcis was denied a try after being adjudged to have had the ball held up over the line.
Again Moray tried to break through the visitors defence from the scrum and for a second time were denied a try with the ball being held up. The resultant scrum allowed Moray to spread the ball wide to their other wing and Kieran Young had the try line in his sights when knocked on and Perthshire were able to clear the danger.
The visitors were not to be outdone and clawed their way back into the Moray half winning a lineout in the Moray 22. They moved the ball wide to their wing who went over in the corner to close the gap to a point with 7 minutes to play.
 Moray were in no mood to let the game slip however and took play back to Perth from the restart. They won a scrum in the Perthshire 22 and moved the ball along the back line to wing Spencer Barcis who was finally able to break 2 desperate tackles and get a well deserved try in the corner and clinch the result for Moray by 31 points to 25.
This was another gutsy performance by the Moray lads. In spite of a much changed team with several of the squad playing out of position they never lost their focus and fully deserved their win. The scrum was particularly strong and the rucking much improved after a session with coach Taff Stephens. The whole team tackled their hearts out and kept a strong Perthshire 15 at bay for long periods of the game.
They now face Ellon on Wednesday in their final league fixture for what will be another tight match.
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Last 1st XV Game |
| 1st XV Season (2021/22) |
| Banff 33 - 39 Moray |
| 5th Mar 22 - KO: 15:00 |
| Venue: Duff House |
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