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News Article |
| HIGHLAND REDS 28 - 17 MORAY |
| Wed 16th Sep 2009 |
 Moray had the worst start to their Scottish Hydro Electric Caledonia League Division 2 (NW) campaign last Saturday when they were beaten by 28 points to 17 away to Highland Reds.
The game had been scheduled for Morriston but flooding the week previous had left the pitches recovering and the clubhouse inoperable.
Moray kicked off into a fair breeze and in the early encounters were pegged back in their own half. In the 10th minute, they gave away a penalty for a high tackle, 30 metres out. The kick was landed for a 3-0 lead.
A big Inverness pack was stamping its authority up front and the visitors were restricted to the occasional foray through broken play.
In the 17th minute, however, they put their first points on the board and took the lead. Flanker Marc Higgins fly hacked a loose ball forward, wing Douglas Ireland collected and slipped the ball to wing Ryan Anderson and he beat three defenders to score the try. Higgins pulled the conversion attempt wide to leave the score 3-5.
Highland had adapted to and were using the wind well and, in the 33rd minute, regained the lead. A mix up at centre in defence, allowed the home centre to crash through and score a converted try for a 10-5 lead.
Within 5 minutes, the lead was extended when another mix up in defence again allowed the Highland backs to burst through and score. The try was converted to leave the half time score Highland 17 Moray 5.
The Inverness side started the second half the way they had finished the first, putting Moray under pressure in their half. In the 52nd minute, another unenforced error in the backs allowed them to pick up a loose ball and run in a third try. The conversion was missed leaving the score 22-5.
At this point in the game, Moray were really struggling but credit to them, they did not let the heads drop and they continued to try and get something out of the game.
In the 60th minute, they reduced the leeway when replacement Wing James Taylor went over in the corner. The try emanated from a break from defence with Stand-Off Craig Forster following up, winning the ball and offloading to the wing to score. Full-Back Jamie Hickie missed the conversion leaving the score 22-10.
Four minutes later, the Elgin side were right back in the game. A speculative kick by Scrum-Half Johnny Morren was chased down by Ireland and the high bounce of the ball allowed the wing to pluck the ball from the air and run in the score. Hickie converted to get the visitors within a converted try of the lead at 22-17.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, the Moray fans in the crowd hoped their team would now go on and secure the victory. Highland had other thoughts, however, and when the visitors gave away two late penalties in their own 22, both of which were landed, the home side went on to win by 28 points to 17.
Overall the Highland side had deserved their victory having adapted to the wind better, having taken control up front and having capitalised on a number of errors by the Moray side.
This Saturday, Moray will be looking for a better performance and getting back on track when they again visit Inverness, this time to play Inverness Craig Dunain.
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Caledonia 2 North |
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| 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 |
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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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