Muntly overcame a much improved Ross –Sutherland outfit to record a fine victory on their return after the October break.
Early tight exchanges saw Ross in the ascendancy and Muntly showing some hesitancy in the tackle and at the ruck.
Muntly, however opened the scoring after some smooth handling along the back line saw winger Fraser Whitecross make good ground before being scragged just short of the try line; a quick re-cycle saw fly-half Murdo Reid put centre Innes Parkin away in the corner for the opener.
Any thoughts that Muntly may have harboured about running away with the match were soon quashed when almost directly from the restart, several missed tackles allowed the Ross centre to waltz in on the left.
Muntly regained the lead with a smart re-start of their own and a bullocking run and sweet off-load by No 8 Gregor Clark sent winger Mylo McBain in from 30 metres to outflank the defence to score under the posts.
Having shaken off some of their holiday cobwebs, Muntly stretched further ahead when second row Jai O’Brien went over from short range after a quick tap penalty and a sharp break from Scrum-Half George Lunn.
Muntly closed the session after some further smart hands and a scything break from Parkin set McBain in for his second of the afternoon.
Ross started the second period much brighter, whilst their opposition was slow to get back into the game, and several missed tackles allowed them to cut the arrears.
Stung into action, Muntly put together several quick phases and advanced deep into the Ross 22, before O’Brien picked up to dive over from short range in the left hand corner.
After an injury break that saw flanker Corey Rizza have to depart the pitch, a quickfire double from prop Scott Riach put paid to any Ross thoughts of a comeback; the first was the result of much improved Muntly line speed leading applying pressure and leading to a Ross knock-on.
Far quicker to react, Muntly turned attack into defence and after a couple of quick phases, Riach charged over from range.
The second was almost a carbon copy with a Ross error allowing Riach to take the ball at pace centre-field and run in.
Further Muntly pressure reaped rewards when O’Brien completed his hat-trick with a clever pick and go from a turnover ruck.
Clearly thinking the job was done, Muntly sat back and relaxed and managed to concede the final score of the session.
The final session once again saw Ross take advantage of some lax tackling and register the first try after some strong running down the centre of the park.
Having rung the changes, an almost entirely new Muntly 15 did well to neutralise the renewed Ross attack with a fine defensive effort, particularly from three-quarters Leon Ross, Peter Edwards, Dylan Grimwood and scrum-half Nathan Ruck.
The pressure soon told and allowed Muntly to reply with a score of their own as they switched the point of attack to the left and O’Brien arced in once more.
With the game drawing to a close, and Ross keen to prove a point, Muntly leaked a further Ross scores to further reduce the deficit.
Outscoring Ross by 9 tries to 6, and with Parkin adding 5 conversions, Muntly were the victors of an extremely hard fought and exciting encounter by 32 – 20.
An excellent effort across the squad saw Muntly look extremely good in attack, with their hard work of previous weeks to improve handling really paying dividends.
The defensive effort improved as the match progressed with younger squad members really stepping up to the mark against tough opposition.
Muntly now look forward to a pair of friendly fixtures at both U13 and U14 level, V Deeside at Huntly next Sunday.
Muntly U14s/13s: Gregor Clark (C), Leon Ross, Lewis Hay, George Lunn, Euan May, Innes Parkin, Scott Riach, Corey Rizza, Fraser Whitecross, Jenson Fathers, Grant Hendry, Alasdair Hutcheon, Murdo Reid, Jake Harrison, Ross Gifford, Josh Austin, Blair Garrick, Roan Phillips, Joe Elvines, Mylo McBain, Jai O’Brien, Ethan Mair, Callum Robson, Lewie Austin, Linton Muckle, Peter Edwards, Nathan Ruck, Arran Lawson, Thomas Eadon, Mostyn Findlater, Logan Duncan, Dylan Grimwood.
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