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News Article |
| MORAY 86 LOCHABER 7 |
| Tue 15th Mar 2016 |
An in-form Moray team comprehensively defeated Lochaber by 86 points to 7 in their latest BT Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture.
The Elgin side opened the scoring in the 4th minute. A Lochaber scrum, within their 22, was taken against the head and moved to centre Frankie Du Toit. His drive for the line was halted just short but hooker Lewis Higgins got hands on the ball and drove over the line for an unconverted try and a 5-0 lead.
Five minutes later, the home side were back in the opposition 22 and took a throw-in against the head. The forwards drove for the line, set up quick ruck ball and when the ball was moved wide through hands, wing Kieran Herrington had enough space to score an unconverted try in the corner for 10-0.
From the restart, a mix up in the Moray defence allowed a Fort William player to get his boot to the ball and kick it towards the goal-line. Their second-row was first to the ball, controlled it and scored a converted try to reduce the lead to 10-7.
In the 16th minute, play progressed to a scrum, 5 metres from the Lochaber line. The scrum was wheeled and the home side given the 'put in'. A big scrum took the ball against the head, the scrum progressed over the line and second-row Chris Robottom touched down for another unconverted try, taking the lead to 15-7.
The lead was extended to 22-7 in the 25th minute when Du Toit scored the bonus point try. Clean ball was taken at a line 5 metres out and when the ball was spun to the backs, the centre took a great line to breach the defence and score. Wing Callum Wright added the conversion points.
Two tries in two minutes on the half hour mark, extended the lead to 36-7. The first was scored when after some good driving play by the forwards, the ball was spun wide to Wright and he handed-off his opposite number and scored under the posts. He added the conversion points.
The second was scored from the restart when wing-forward Marc Higgins collected and ran the ball back at Lochaber. He opened the ball to the backs before he was tackled and Du Toit received the final pass to score his second try of the afternoon. Wright added the conversion points for a half-time score of Moray 36 Lochaber 7.
Within two minutes of the restart, Du Toit had scored his third when he picked up a missed pass in midfield and ran three quarters the length of the field to score. Wright added the extras for 43-7.
In a 10 minute period, the home side went on to run in four further tries.
Firstly Herrington got his second when after a charging run by Steven Clark, the second-row offloaded to the wing who split the defence and scored, Wright adding the conversion points.
Secondly, Wright broke from his own half and was only stopped 10 metres from the line. Herrington was on hand to pick up and score his third try out wide, an unconverted try.
Thirdly, a barging run by replacement second-row CJ Maxtone put the Fort William sides defence on the back foot and quick hands took the ball to Wright and he made the line to score his second try, which he converted.
Fourthly, a break down the right flank was initially taken on by Wright and he offloaded to full-back Andrew McBean who made it to the line. Once again Wright added the conversion points.
The score was now 69-7.
In the 60th minute, Wright scored his third of the afternoon. Lochaber fly hacked the ball from inside their 22 but the ball went straight to the wing. He quickly ran back at the defence, breaking weary tackles and scoring an unconverted try for 74-7.
In the 78th minute, the home side were back in the 22, attacking the line. Lochaber were penalised for offside and Du Toit quickly took a tap penalty, caught the defence sleeping and scored an unconverted try out wide for 79-7.
The final try of the afternoon was scored by Moray Captain John Westmacott when he finished off a driving move in the 22. Wright added the conversion points for a final score of Moray 86 Lochaber 7.
It had been a very convincing victory by the home side who were completely dominant in all aspects of the game. The scrum in the first half was unstoppable although the visitors were given relief in the second half after uncontested scrum had to be used. In the loose and with ball in hand, the Moray pack were immense and created an unlimited supply of good ball for the backs. Scrum-half Callum Watson got the ball away from the break down quickly and stand-off Chris Clarke used the ball well. This allowed his fellow backs to run in 11 of the 14 tries scored. Wright's contribution to the afternoon was 31 points including three tries and it was a fitting farewell display by the wing whose pace, skill and enthusiasm will be missed. Young wing Herrington also scored three tries and centre Du Toit celebrated the birth of his son by scoring four tries.
Moray now only have two fixtures to complete the league season with an away game to Garioch on the 2nd April and at home to Shetland on the 21st May, a rearrangement of a previously cancelled fixture.
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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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