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News Article |
| STORNOWAY 3 MORAY 29 |
| Fri 14th Oct 2016 |
 Moray made the long trip to Stornoway last Saturday, in the latest round of the BT Caledonia League Division 2 North (West) and came home victorious with a 29-3 Bonus point win.
The islanders kicked off, on a beautiful day for fast open play rugby, but straight into touch. From the restart scrum, the visitors progressed up field and pressed in the home 22 resulting in a penalty for offside. Andrew McBean slotted the kick for an early lead of 0-3.
Around the 15th minute, Lewis Small, playing at 10, broke from midfield to score under the posts with a dazzling sidestep and dummy pass. McBean added the conversion for 0-10.
From the restart, the Elgin side knocked on giving Stornoway the put in at the scrum. Moray won this against the head and worked the ball left to wing Keiran Young who used his blistering pace to score from the half-way line. The conversion on this occasion was missed by McBean leaving the lead at 0-15.
 The home side continued to pressure their opponents hard but the defence was good, from both teams. In this period, the Stornoway centre intercepted a flick pass by Young but the wing redeemed himself by hunting down the attacking player and tackled him to the ground, three metres from the try line. The arriving defending pack unfortunately gave away a penalty which Stornoway pulled wide of the posts.
From the resulting 22 drop-out, Moray were penalised for being in front of the kicker and a second attempt at the posts was not missed, reducing the lead to 3-15
Wing-forward, Marc Higgins, was yellow carded for misappropriate use of his foot in a ruck, however, his team went on to score while a man down when centre Harvey AJ Freeman broke through two tackles to touch down on the close by the posts. McBean converted for 3-22, the half-time score.
 The second half was a relentless battle for the first 30 minutes. Both teams fought for every ball and there was a continuous ebb and flow up and down the park between the 22’s.
In the 75th minute, John Stuart, who to that point had played an excellent attacking and defensive game, was yellow carded for tackling without the use of his arms. The islanders tapped and ran, however, at the breakdown, the ball was turned over and after a few passes the ball came to a revitalised Marc Higgins, who broke through a weak tackle and went over between the posts with the ball clutched firmly in both hands, this time, for the bonus point try. McBean slotted the conversion on the stroke of full time for a final score of Stornoway 3 Moray 29.
 Stornoway to their credit gave the Moray team a hard physical game and did not drop the pressure or their heads at any point throughout the whole encounter.
Moray made the long trip with a very strong side, had taken their opportunities well and enjoyed their trip home after the 29 points to 3 bonus point win taking them within one point of RAF Lossiemouth at the top of the league.
This Saturday, Moray are again on the road on league business when they travel to Fort William to take on Lochaber.
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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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