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News Article |
| MORAY 38 ROSS SUTHERLAND 7 |
| Wed 26th Oct 2016 |
 Moray produced another good all round performance, last Saturday, in defeating Ross Sutherland by 38 points to 7 in their latest Caledonia League Division 2 North (West) fixture.
With only 2 minutes on the clock, the Elgin side opened the scoring. Ball was secured in mid-field, moved through hands and right wing Keiran Young took a great line to slice through the defence and score under the posts. Full-back Connor McWilliam added the conversion points for 7-0.
 This was the start of a sustained period of pressure in the Ross half which was initially defended well, but in the 14th minute, the home side added a second try. A defending scrum, 10 metres from the line, was disrupted by strong scrummaging but the Invergordon side still managed to get the ball away. Centre Frankie Du Toit anticipated the pass away from the scrummage and intercepted and scored under the posts. McWilliam added the conversion points for 14-0.
Four minutes later, Ross found themselves inside the home 22 for the first time in the match and at an attacking line, 20 metres out. The ball was taken cleanly and moved to the visiting stand-off and he initially ran latterly across the pitch before straightening up and breaking a couple of tackles to score a converted try, reducing the lead to 14-7.
 This was the start of a very competitive part of the game with a lot of good defending from both sides.
In the 33rd minute, however, the Elgin side stretched the lead. Ball was won in their own half a moved to wing Kieran Herrington. His mazy run took him to a ruck, 10 metres from the line. The forwards picked and drove and the ball was popped to Prop Nathan Gilmore who managed to barge over the line for the score. McWilliam converted leaving the score at 21-7, the half-time score.
 From the restart, Ross forced their way into a good position deep in the 22 but the home side defended resolutely and actually broke from their own 22 to a ruck inside the opposition half. Scrum-half Callum Watson picked up the ball, dummy passed and as there was no defenders behind the ruck, made a break for the line. He had the pace to outstrip any cover defence and score the fourth and bonus point try under the posts. McWilliam slotted the conversion for 28-7.
Moray were in control and causing real problems with their powerful scrum. A period of 5 minutes saw a number of scrums taken near the opposition goal-line but the Invergordon side only just did enough to keep them at bay.
 In the 58th minute, a penalty was given against Ross, in their 22, for not rolling away at a ruck. On this occasion, the home side opted to kick for goal and McWilliam added the points for 31-7.
In the 65th minute, Moray added a fifth and final try of the afternoon. Good handling took play into the opposition half. The ball was moved quickly to stand-off Calum Henderson and he deftly chipped the ball towards the goal-line. Flanker Marc Higgins set off after, and regained the ball to score under the posts. McWilliam added the conversion points for a final score of Moray 38 Ross Sutherland 7.
 It had been a very good 5 tries to 1 victory for the Moray side and with the RAF Lossiemouth game cancelled, they regained top spot in the league table. The scrum was yet again immense but the all round efforts of the squad should be acknowledged in a fine win against a good Ross side.
This Saturday, Moray are in Inverness, on league business, when they play 3rd placed Highland 2nd XV.
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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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