|
News Article |
| ABERDEEN WANDERERS 19 MORAY 23 |
| Tue 6th Sep 2011 |
Moray started their RBS Caledonia Regional League Division 2 North campaign with a hard fought and close win against Aberdeen Wanderers in Aberdeen last Saturday.
The Elgin side started the brighter and in the 5th minute took a 0-3 lead when Captain and centre Marc Higgins landed a penalty after Wanderers were caught offside on their 22 metre line.
Five minutes later, they extended the lead. A dropped ball, in a home backs move, was fly hacked through and Higgins followed up and secured the ball on the deck. After several driving phases by the forwards, the ball was moved wide and stand off Craig Forster stepped inside his opposite number and made the line. Higgins converted the try for 0-10.
At this point, Moray were dominating possession and in the 14th minute scored another try. Forster made a break from inside his own half and good hands took them inside the 22 where they were halted. No 8 Ross Joy picked up from the ruck, pirouetted and drove over the line for the score out wide. Higgins pushed the conversion attempt to leave the score 0-15.
The visitors continued to press but some unforced errors and last ditch tackling held them out.
In the 30th minute, however, they scored a third try. Ball was won in the Wanderers half and driven into the 22. Quick ball was them moved wide to wing Ryan Anderson and he ran outside his opposite number to score out wide. Higgins conversion attempt came up short to leave the score, the half time score Aberdeen Wanderers 0 Moray 20.
The home side started the 2nd half aggressively looking to make an early impact on the score and 7 minutes into the half got their reward. They were awarded a penalty on the 22 and took a quick tap. This caught the visitors a bit flat footed and a simple passing move created an overlap out wide and they scored an unconverted try to reduce the lead to 5-20.
This gave Wanderers a real boost and they began to have more of the play.
In the 55th minute, they scored a second try after their full back intercepted a Moray attacking move on his 22 and ran three quarters the length of the pitch to score under the posts. The try was converted and lead pulled back to 12-20.
The visitors were now under intense pressure and 10 minutes later leaked a further try. The Aberdeen side put together several driving phases in the 22 and although they lost the ball, the referee adjudged it not forward and they re-gathered and scored. With the conversion points added the teams were only a point apart at 19-20.
There was still 15 minutes to the final whistle but the Moray players dug deep, defended resolutely and looked to play the game in the home half.
With three minutes to play, they found themselves attacking on the home 22 and were awarded a penalty for an infringement at the ruck. Higgins stepped up and landed the kick for a 19-23 lead.
In the final play of the game, Wanderers launched a final assault on the Moray line but the defence stood strong and the final whistle went with the score Aberdeen Wanderers 19 Moray 23.
It had been the proverbial game of two halfs. Moray had dominated the first half and looked liked they would go on and win comfortably. A spirited Wanderers, however, came out strongly for the second half and came very close to winning.
This Saturday’s game against RAF Lossie in the league has been postponed and therefore the next fixture will be on the 17th September at home against Ross Sutherland.
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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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