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News Article |
| MORAY 22 GARIOCH 5 |
| Tue 24th Jan 2012 |
Moray defeated Garioch by 22 points to 5 last Saturday in their latest Caledonia Regional League Division 2 North fixture atMorriston.
The Elgin side kicked off the first half on a bitterly cold afternoon and playing uphill into a strong wind.
Early encounters hinted that the home side were really up for this match as a win was imperative to keep alive any hopes of winning the league.
In the 6th minute they forced their way deep into the visitors 22 and when the defence tried to run, the Moray forwards snagged the man and turned over ball. Second-row Ross Joy picked up the ball at the back of the ruck and forced his way over the line for the score.
Full-back Andrew McBean landed the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
On the quarter of the hour mark, Garioch replied. A penalty was given in the home 22 for offside and after a quick tap, the ball was shipped wide and an unconverted try scored to reduce the lead to 7-5.
With the wind at their backs, the visitors became more dominant but the home defence was resolute and withstood the pressure.
In the 27th minute after a good handling move took Moray into the Inverurie side’s 22, they extended the lead.
Garioch went over the top at a ruck and McBean landed the resultant penalty kick to take the score to 10-5.
The visitors returned to the offensive but the defence stood firm leaving the half time score : Moray 10 Garioch 5.
The home side started strongly in the early part of the second half and although they had the wind at their backs, they continued to play their running game.
In the 47th minute it paid off. A break down the left side of the pitch was moved to centre Phil Abbott and his dummy created the space for him to straighten and make it to the line for the score. McBean added the conversion points for 17-5.
Moray were now the dominant team and it was now the turn of the visitors to show off their defence skills.
With five minutes to go, the pressure paid off when Moray scored their third, and the try of the afternoon.
A home scrum on the centre spot was cleanly won, moved left to Abbott and his delayed pass to centre Jamie Hickie, coming at a good angle, split the defence open.
A simple pass away from the last defender allowed wing Cameron Hughes to run in the score out wide.
McBean missed the kick from the touch line leaving the score at 22-5.
Moray tried hard in the last five minutes to get the bonus point winning try and came closest in the final play only to be halted a metre short.
Final score : Moray 22 Garioch 5
It had been a gutsy performance by the Moray side in very tough conditions that made handling extremely difficult.
From the narrow defeat earlier in the season at Inverurie it was always going to be a tough fixture and the home side did well to stifle the Garioch threat with some good defensive work by forwards and backs.
The foundation was laid in the tight where the home forwards had the upper hand in the scrum and the home backs always looked a threat with ball in hand.
This Saturday, Moray areat home for the second week on the trot with Aberdeenshire visiting on league business. This game has an early kick off at 12 noon.
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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 |
|
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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