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News Article |
| ROSS SUTHERLAND 36 MORAY 27 |
| Wed 16th Oct 2019 |
 Ross Sutherland held off a late second half fight back by Moray to record a 36-27 victory in a highly competitive Tennent’s Caledonia North Region League Division 2 fixture last Saturday in Invergordon.
The Ross side got off to a great start and after only a couple of minutes, took a 5-0 lead after scoring a try out wide following a quick tap penalty in the opposition 22.
In the 5th minute, the Elgin side reduced the lead to 2 points when stand-off Rory Millar landed a penalty following a high tackle.
 Three minutes later, they took the lead. Wing-forward Fergus Nicol broke from his own half and after a number of continuity passes, wing Ian Thomson received the ball and crashed over the line. Millar added the conversion points for 5-10.
In the 14th minute, the Invergordon side levelled the score when their right wing broke a number of tackles to score out wide.
 Five minutes later, they regained the lead. An attacking line in the 22 was cleanly taken and a couple of driving phases later, they crossed the line for a converted try and 17-10 lead.
In the 24th minute, the right wing scored his second, and the bonus point try, when he again broke a number of tackles to score an unconverted try out wide for 22-10.
 Moray rallied late on in the half but were held up over the line on a couple of occasions and had another couple of good chances which were lost due to inaccuracies and unenforced errors.
The Elgin side started the second half brightly and in the 46th minute reduced the lead to 22-15. A penalty was awarded, 5 metres out, for diving over the ruck and a quick tap taken and moved to centre Jamie Hickey. He stepped inside the defender and made the line for an unconverted try.
 In the 53rd minute, Ross stretched their lead when they took clean ball and drove from an attacking line 5. The ball looked and was claimed held-up by the visitors, but the referee awarded the try which was converted for a 29-15 lead.
Eight minutes later, the Invergordon side added another after a clear knock-on which unfortunately due to bodies in the way, the referee did not witness. The try was converted for 36-15.
 This was a double blow for the Moray side but from the restart they forced an attacking penalty.
Hickey took a quick tap and made ground towards the goal line before setting up the ball. Replacement Gareth Dunscombe was quickly on hand, picked up and drove over from 3 metres to score. Hickey added the conversion for 36-22.
 The visitors were now in the ascendency and with 10 minutes to go, they added their 4th and bonus point try. Following a number of penalties in the Ross 22 and drives for the line, the ball was opened to the backs and replacement centre Tswai Mweemba made the line to score his first try for the club. Hickey’s conversion attempt unfortunately came back off the upright leaving the score at 36-27 but still requiring two further scores in the last 10 minutes for the win.
Moray continued to press in the final minutes but the home defence stood resolute and held out to record a 36-27 win.
 It had been a very competitive and exciting game of rugby and a contest that could easily have gone the other way. Even though a couple of decisions went against them, the Moray team did have, but did not manage to execute, on a number of other opportunities created.
The line-out did not function properly on the day and work will need to be put in at training in preparation for the visit of Aberdeenshire to Morriston this Saturday. Kick-off 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 |
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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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