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News Article |
| MORAY 22 LOCHABER 17 |
| Wed 5th Feb 2014 |
 Last Saturday saw Moray host visitors Lochaber in a rearranged RBS Caledonia League Division 2 North match with the Elgin side narrowly winning by 22 points to 17 after a very close encounter.
Home hopes were high following their previous week's high scoring victory over RAF Lossiemouth and Lochaber’s drubbing at the hands of league leaders Highland. I
t was a surprise therefore when it was the visitors who made the better start.
 Kicking off at a blustery Morriston Park their early pressure paid off in the third minute when they scored an unconverted try and took a five point lead after good rucking by the forwards.
The next twenty minutes saw Moray work their way back into the match, testing the strong Lochaber defence. This was eventually breached by strong running centre Joe Macari who put winger Aled Herbert in at the corner. The missed conversion made the score 5-5.
This was followed by a second home try in the 36th minute when flanker Chris Morrison went over following a powerful line-out drive by the forwards.
A successful conversion by part-time goal kicker Marc Higgins made it 12-5.
 Towards the end of the half referee Reynolds lost patience with the visitor's persistent infringements at the breakdown and yellow carded their No 4.
A 12-5 half-time lead for Moray was a fair reflection of their forward's dominance at scrum and line-out.
The second half saw a change in fortunes in these departments with Lochaber's set-piece gaining the upper hand and with 5 minutes gone, their centre cut inside and broke through a couple of weak tackle attempts to score an unconverted and reduce the lead to 12-10.
It was the strength of the home side's back-row, particularly flanker Neil Wiseman, in defence and attack that was causing a real issue for the visitors and it led to centre Alex Stronach scoring in the corner.
 Substitute Andrew McBean resumed his normal kicking duties but failed to convert from out wide, leaving the lead now at 17-10.
Lochaber responded and in the 60th minute after a quick tap penalty and some slack defending, scored a converted try to level the score at 17-17.
In a tense last quarter Lochaber again had a player sin-binned for repeated infringement around the tackle area.
Moray took advantage of this and after a powerful forward drive and good ruck set up, scrum half Callum Watson picked up the ball and plunged over for the try.
 McBean conversion attempt was missed leaving the lead at 22-17.
Staunch home defence in the final minutes saw the Elgin side hold out for a bonus point victory which pushes them up to 5th in the league.
With only three matches remaining, this looks likely to be their highest possible placing this year but it is a creditable outcome for a very young and fast improving squad.
Six Nations matches in February means that Moray's next league outing is away to Aberdeen Wanderers on 1st March.
(Lots of new photos from this match are available in the Gallery. Click here.)
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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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