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News Article |
| MORAY 70 RAF LOSSIEMOUTH 0 |
| Sat 25th Oct 2008 |
Last Saturday, Moray comfortably beat RAF Lossiemouth by 70 points to nil in their latest home fixture in the Scottish Hydro Electric Caledonia Division 2 (North West) league.
On a very windy autumnal afternoon, Moray kicked off playing uphill and against the wind.
After only 5 minutes, they took the lead. A drive up the blind side took them to the opposition 10 where the visitors were penalised for handling on the ground. The ball was despatched to touch on the 22. Clean ball was taken at the resulting line-out and the ball spun wide. Outside-Centre Ryan Anderson took the ball at pace and drifted past a couple of defenders for the score. Stand-off Lee Millar landed the conversion for 7-0.
The wind was having an effect on the game by making the line-out and passing difficult and this, combined with solid defence by both sides meant that no points were scored for the next half an hour.
Five minutes from half time however, the Elgin side added to their lead. A sweeping move from their own 10 metre line found its way to full-back Marika Tivitivi who made it to the line for what he thought was the score. The referee saw it differently and adjudged the ball to be held up over the line and a scrum given. Clean ball was taken, spun and the line attacked at centre field. Hooker Martin Donaldson supported, was slipped the ball and drove over the line for the score. Millar converted for 14-0, the half time score.
The Lossie side had competed well in the first half but had been unable to use the elements to apply any real pressure on the home defence. With the elements now on their favour, Moray set about trying to increase their lead.
In the 44th minute, they made it 21-0 when after clean ball was taken at a line on the opposition 10 metre line, Millar decided to chip the defence. Wing-forward Marc Higgins was quickest to react and gathered the ball to score a converted try.
Six minutes later, the Elgin side scored their fourth and bonus point-winning try. After throwing the ball in at a line, 5 metres out, Donaldson followed round and drove over the line for his second try. Millar slotted the conversion for 28-0.
Moray were spending more and more time in the Lossie 22 and in the 55th minute, they went further ahead. A penalty was given for an infringement 10 metres out. Prop Frank Thomson quickly took the penalty and after a couple of passes, the ball reached Millar who had a clear path to the line. He converted his own score for 35-0.
It was now all one-way traffic and in the last 15 minutes of the game, the home side added 5 further tries.
Firstly Millar scored and converted his second after scrum-half Johnny Morren took a quick penalty when the visitors were penalised for speaking back at the referee.
Four minutes later, Millar made it a hat-trick when he broke from his own half, beat 3 defenders and raced to the line. Once again he landed the conversion kick for 49-0.
With 5 minutes to go, a sweeping handling move, firstly from right to left and then back again, came to a halt in a ruck just short of the goal line. Replacement wing James Taylor was first there and he picked up and dived over the line for another converted try.
In the 78th minute, clean line out ball was moved to the backs and inside-centre Phil Abbott took the crash ball and broke the defensive line to score. Millar converted for 63-0.
The last play of the game saw Moray’s 10th and final try of the game. A penalty 10 metres out was initially driven to a ruck by second-row Calum Purcell. Ball was quickly moved from the break down to Millar who released Thomson inside him to barge over the line. Millar converted for a final score of Moray 70 RAF Lossiemouth 0.
The RAF lads had competed well for the first half of the game but had been comprehensively outplayed in the second period by a well-organised, fitter and confident Moray side.
Up front, the Elgin side had adapted better to the windy conditions in the line, had rucked well and were first to the ball on the deck. Behind the scrum, the backs too had dealt better with the elements, had handled well and were always threatening with ball in hand. ‘Man of the Match’ Lee Millar controlled the game at stand off with a good balance of passing and kicking, was immaculate in his goal kicking, landing 10 out of 10 and scored 3 tries in his 35 point haul.
This Saturday, Moray are at home again and face Stornoway in the league, weather permitting the islanders to travel. The Elgin side won the earlier away encounter handsomely and will be confident of a good result. The Stornoway side have requested a kick off time of 12 noon to allow a return on the evening ferry. Supporters are requested to check the Moray RFC page of the SRU website for any change to the kick off time. (www.scottishrugby.org)
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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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