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News Article |
| MORAY 1ST XV 53 STORNOWAY 0 |
| Tue 27th Mar 2018 |
 Moray 1st XV comfortably defeated visitors Stornoway by 53 points to nil last Saturday in their latest BT Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture.
The home side started brightly and after only 4 minutes took the lead. Play had progressed into the opposition 22 and an attacking line. Clean ball was set, driven and No 8 John Stuart broke off the back and forced his way over the line for an unconverted try and a 5-0 lead.
 In the 12th minute, the lead doubled to 10-0 when after more good driving play in the 22, the ball was spun wide and wing Andrew McBean made the line.
The Elgin side was in control and in the 23rd minute, they stretched the lead. A defending line-out in the 22 was taken against the throw and a drive set. Wing-forward Ross Joy broke from the drive and scored an unconverted try out wide for 15-0.
The bonus point try was scored in the 31st minute. Driving play in the 22 was set and then opened through hands to centre Mark Higgins. He stepped inside and then had the strength to make the line. Full-back Callum Wright added the conversion points for 22-0.
 In the 37th minute, the home side scored a try which emanated from their own 22. A handling move reached Wright on the wing and he made good ground before passing the ball back inside the supporting Marc Higgins who made the line out wide for his second, an unconverted try and a 27-0 lead.
On the stroke of half-time, Joy added his second of the afternoon when after a good passage of popping driving play, he handed-off the last two defenders to make the line. Wright added the extras for a half-time score of 34-0.
 Moray started the second-half where they had left off the first and in the 46th minute moved further ahead. Play had advanced to an attacking scrum, 5 metres out. The powerful pack took clean ball and then drove their opponents over the line allowing Stuart to pick up and score his second try. With Wright adding the conversion points, the score was now 41-0.
The Stornoway heads never went down and they kept going and in the 62nd minute they created a really good scoring opportunity but good defending kept them out.
 In the 66th minute, Stuart got his third of the afternoon after receiving the ball from a good driving and popping passage of play in the 22. Wright pulled the conversion attempt wide leaving the score at 46-0.
Three minutes from time, Moray scored their final points of the afternoon. The ball was picked up by Stuart at the back of a solid scrum, 12 metres out, and he had the power to drive through the tiring Stornoway defenders to score his fourth try. With Wright adding the conversion the final score was Moray 1st XV 53 Stornoway 0.
 It had been a powerful display by the Moray forwards and the backs enjoyed an abundance of good ball to run at the opposition. Driving and popping play by forwards and backs together had created real problems and set up good positions from where they scored.
On Saturday, the Moray 1st XV make the long trip by road and sea to Shetland on league business. This is a really important game as it has been decreed a double header by the SRU as Shetland have had to cancel twice coming to Elgin due to weather and the season is quickly coming to a conclusion.
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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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