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News Article |
| MORAY U16 V PERTHSHIRE – CALLY SHIELD FINAL 28/4/13 |
| Mon 29th Apr 2013 |
 Moray U16s finished off a very good season by putting in a terrifically committed performance against Perthshire in the final of the Caledonia U16 Shield Final in Inverness last Sunday. Coming from behind, the side secured a hard fought 7-7 draw and with it a share of the Shield.
In the first half Moray, having lost the toss, found themselves playing into a fierce gale and driving rain and sleet. They lost an early score when Perthshire’s stand off chipped the Moray defence and their right wing outpaced the cover to score a try which was well converted.
 Moray then defended heroically as Perthshire pressed hard looking to increase their lead. However Moray had other ideas and, despite the elements, mounted a series of attacks in their opponents half from a strong base in the scrum, good rucking and determined, direct driving play through their pack where Warren Greaves, Drew Cooper, Gregor Devlin and Robert Casburn made serious inroads into the Perthshire defence.
With the Moray half backs, Calum Henderson and Robbie Hickey, linking well and strong running from centres Toby Jeffreys, Spencer Barcis, wing “Chalky” Brownless and fullback, Konnor Pritchet, it seemed that Moray must score but Perthshire’s defence held out and there was no further scoring before halftime.
 With the wind now at their backs Moray held the advantage but it was Perthshire who started more strongly in the second half.
However superb defence in which everybody played their part but with skipper Devlin, Cooper, Jeffreys, front row players Duncan Martin, Andrew O’Neill and flankers Cameron Donegan and Gregor Hands outstanding, the Elgin side held firm and gradually gained the upper hand.
Eventually the pressure told and after more impressive driving play from the Moray forwards Cooper powered his way over for a try between the posts. Cameron Beattie added the conversion to level the scores.
Moray pressed again and at one stage their pack drove their opponents back more than thirty metres. With the forwards, including replacement James Bell, in the ascendency and Henderson orchestrating well at scum half, Hickey, Barcis, Pritchett and winger Jordan Whitta all found space and made good ground. Cameron Beattie went over the Perthshire line but was adjudged to have been held in a previous tackle and penalised for not releasing the ball.
However, to their great credit the Perthshire defence held out and several times turned defence into dangerous counter attack with a number of intelligent breaks up the pitch. Only dogged Moray defence snuffed out the threat on each occasion.
 The final whistle came with both sides having given their all in a thrilling match. A draw and a share of the Shield trophy was a fair result and is a fitting end to the season in which the Moray U16 side also finished third in the U16 Caledonia North League Division 1 and had an overall playing season record of played 17 matches, won 10, drawn 1 and lost 6.
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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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