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News Article |
| MORAY 85 LOCHABER 10 |
| Thu 16th Oct 2014 |
 Moray convincingly defeated Lochaber by 85 points to 10 in their latest BT Caledonia Division 2 North fixture last Saturday at Morriston.
The home side kicked off, playing downhill, and within 6 minutes had put the first points on the board. A break down the left wing was halted just short of the line. The ball was quickly recycled and moved to prop Lewis Higgins who made it over the line for the opening try. Wing Andrew McBean pulled the conversion kick wide leaving the score at 5-0.
Three minutes later, they added to that lead. After some good ball retention by the forwards, it was moved along the line. Full-back Chris Clarke came into the line, stepped inside the defence and sprinted for and made the line. McBean added the conversion points for 12-0.
From the restart, the Elgin side regained the ball and an inside pass, after a break by wing-forward Neil Wiseman, saw scrum-half Callum Watson make it to the line. McBean slotted the conversion to take the lead to 19-0.
Moray were in complete control and in the 18th minute scored their fourth and the bonus point try. A great break from centre Ewan Stuart from inside his own 22 saw him put McBean into space and the winger outpaced the defence to score. He converted his own try for a 26-0 lead.
 In the space of 2 minutes around the half hour, the home side added two further tries. Firstly another storming run by Wiseman was offloaded to centre Joe Macari and he broke the defence and scored. Secondly, Clarke scored his second after being put into space after a break by Macari. McBean added both conversions for a 40-0 lead.
To their credit, Lochaber did not lie down and after a good passage of play up the right side of the park, their scrum-half scored an unconverted try to reduce the led to 40-5.
From the restart, however, the Elgin side scored again. With ball in hand, Macari stepped inside and broke before releasing the ball to McBean who in turn released Clarke to make the line for his third. McBean added the two points for a half time score of Moray 47 Lochaber 5.
Within 5 minutes of the restart, the home side added two further unconverted tries by McBean (to put him on a hat-trick) after some slick handling, extending the lead to 59 points to 5.
To rub salt into the wound, No 8 Ross Joy strolled in for an unconverted try and 64-5 in the 56th minute after the ball was dropped by the Lochaber backs close to their goal line.
In the 60th minute, Macari scored the best try of the afternoon. Lochaber had ball in hand and were attacking the home goal line. A big effort was put in by the Moray forwards in defending this and they turned over ball. The ball was moved quickly wide to the backs and a handling move the length of the field was finished off by the big centre. McBean converted for 71-5.
Three minutes later, Clarke added his fourth of the afternoon after a driving play took the Elgin side deep into the 22 and wing forward Harvey Freeman offloaded in the tackle to allow the full-back to score. Clarke converted his own try for 78-5.
 The spirit in the Lochaber camp has to be commended as even though they were down and out with regard to the result, they then went on to have their best spell of the match putting the home side under pressure in their own 22 for a ten minute spell. The pressure paid off in the 75th minute when they deservedly reached the white wash for an unconverted try and 78-10.
To round off the afternoon, Macari added his third score after a good barging break by Captain John Westmacott was opened to the backs. He converted his own try for a final score of Moray 85 Lochaber 10.
It had been a good all round display against a struggling Lochaber side. The forwards were strong in the scrum and line and the back row, in particular, were excellent in the loose. Behind the scrum the backs were always dangerous with ball in hand and took their tries well.
This Saturday, Moray are at home and face RAF Lossiemouth in the quarter final of the BT Caledonia Regional Bowl North. The Lossie side are a big, strong unit and were worthy winners of the League encounter last month. Moray, however, will be up for it and looking to avenge that defeat and progress to the next round. It should be a really enthralling battle and kick off is 3pm.
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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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