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News Article |
| MORAY U16 V ORKNEY U16 |
| Tue 25th Oct 2011 |
 Moray U16’s completed their NW League fixtures with a game away to Orkney which also doubled up as the first of their Premier league matches for this season.
The long trip up involved an overnight stay in Kirkwall which allowed the team to take in the World cup final before venturing onto Orkney’s pitch to tackle the hosts.
Moray kicked off with a strong breeze at their backs and both teams tested each other’s defences for the first ten minutes before Moray released the ball to their backs who moved it to the wing and drove right up to the Orkney 5 m line. From the ensuing ruck Aaron Logan was fed the ball and drove over to open the score. Ewan Stuart added a superb conversion from the touchline.
Moray continued to pressurise Orkney from the restart and a pick up at the back of a scrum by Ewan Stuart closely supported by Trevor Jones and Mattie Smith allowed Moray to make 50 m before being stopped in the Orkney 22.
Shortly after Moray won a penalty after a high tackle and Ewan Stuart slotted it over from 25 m to extend the lead.
Moray were gaining the upper hand and the forwards were putting the Orkney pack through the mill at scrum time as well as holding their own in the line out despite the tricky wind affecting throw ins.
 After another high tackle Moray kicked the resultant penalty from half way to the 5 m line and from the line out drove the ball close the Orkney try line. They were held but from the resulting scrum Trevor Jones picked up and crashed over in the corner to make the score 15-0 to Moray after 25 minutes.
Orkney were not out of the contest and straight from the kick off won a scrum near the Moray 22. They managed to quickly feed the ball to their no 10 who slotted a well taken drop goal from 30m to get them on the scoreboard.
Moray responded well and attacked Orkney again but a penalty for offside allowed Orkney to clear to their 22. Moray stole the ball at the lineout and Trevor Jones drove through from 20 m to make it 22-3 for Moray at half time.
Moray were well aware that the second half would be a stiff test playing into the wind and Orkney upped their game after the half time team talk and took the kick off well before driving up field and forcing a line out 30 m from the Moray try line. Their no 7 took the ball across the pitch and set up a ruck where the home team gained a penalty after a Moray player went offside. Orkney took it quickly and drove over from short range to score a try.
The home team were playing with much more effect in the second half and scored a 2nd try 10 minutes later after winning a line out close to the Moray line and driving over to make it Orkney 13 Moray 23 with around 20 minutes to play.
Moray responded well and from the restart won the ball in the Orkney 22 before passing it quickly through the backs allowing centre Josh Grundie to sprint clear and score in the corner.
 This score settled Moray and they grew in confidence. Orkney were resorting to a kicking game to try and gain territory but the Moray back 3 were comfortable running the ball straight back at them and the match moved from end to end until Trevor Jones made a burst from near half way through several tackles and was able to offload to David Grigor in close support who scored his first try for the club, making the score Moray 32 Orkney 12 with 12 minutes left. Neither team dropped the work rate for the last 10 minutes and provided a great display of quality rugby but Moray were able to close the game out with no further scores.
 The whole Moray squad reaped the rewards for some hard work in training over the last few weeks with the forwards especially impressing. The scrummaging was first class thanks to coaching from Brian Millar and the rucking and ruck defence provided a solid platform. Orkney put up a stiff defence and considering they had played 3 games in 4 days never looked out of the contest and were strong opponents. It all makes for an interesting return match in 2 weeks time.
(More images from this trip can be found in the Gallery.)
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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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