|
News Article |
| INVERNESS CRAIG DUNAIN 14 - 65 MORAY |
| Wed 23rd Sep 2009 |
 Moray, for the second week on the trot, visited Inverness on league business, this time to play Inverness Craig Dunain, coming away with a convincing 65-14 win.
On a perfect afternoon for rugby Moray received the kick off, playing downhill, and immediately lost possession. The Inverness side failed to capitalise on this opportunity and in fact this set the tone for the afternoon for the home team whose efforts were not fully rewarded.
The away supporters did not have to wait long for their team to get points on the board. From a passage of play showing a degree of understanding not always found this early in the season, forwards and backs linked well putting Kieran Ross through for the first score. Jamie Hickey, missed a difficult kick from the far touchline for 0-5.
Both teams were guilty in the early stages of wasting opportunities and turning the ball over cheaply. Often it seemed easier to score and this was causing a lot of disquiet amongst the fans on the touchline. Fair to say that the decision making of the referee, on his first outing , caused as many debates. It is a credit to the teams that they stuck to the job in hand and produced a lot of entertaining rugby.
The next score came from a pick up at the base of the scrum by Craig Forster and pass to new Scrum-Half Aled Edwards. Two perfect hand offs produced a score near the posts with the easier kick converted by Hickey for 0-12. This was the first of many flashes of brilliance from the new player.
Ryan Anderson burst through a number of tackles to attack the Craig Dunain line with menace. The ensuing melee of players across the try line ended with a try being awarded after the referee cleared a number of bodies away from the line. Try again converted by Hickey for 0-19.
From the restart, Ross Joy made inroads into home territory and despite support from the forwards, no advantage was gained from this attack. In the passage of play which followed Mark Abenheimer went off for treatment and was replaced by Ian Ireland joining son Douglas for a short run. This was extended later in the game when Ian came on as a sub.
The crowd did not have long to wait for the next score as Jamie Hickey made a good break heading right into the corner. A speculative, no look inside pass over shoulder found Ryan Anderson in support to score under the posts. Try converted by Hickey for 0-26.
As the half wound down, Craig Dunain launched a number of spirited attacks. On one occasion the pressure resulted in a clearing kick being blocked and a try scored under the posts leading to an easy conversion reducing the score to 7-26.
Moray kicked off the second half and immediately went on the attack culminating in Hickey scoring in the far corner. This time he pulled the kick wide leaving the score 7-31.
The visiting centres then combined to work a gap in midfield which resulted in a try being scored in the left corner. Hickey gave the kick his all but it fell short having the right direction for 7-36.
The forwards then got in the act with Foster feeding the scrum half who broke the line. Passing back to the forwards, they drove on as a tight cohesive unit and over the line. When the bodies had cleared Abenheimer got up with the ball having scored an unconverted try for 7-41.
Immediately from the restart, Kieran Ross added his second, scoring an opportunist individual try. Hickey converted for 7-48.
A few minutes later, Ryan Anderson ran ¾ the length of the park before being caught from behind by the collar of his jersey. His inside pass was collected by the supporting Moray wing who scored by the posts. Hickey converted for 7-55.
The forwards again decided to get in on the act with a barging run which was finished off by Craig Foster. The kick from wide out was missed leaving the score 7-60.
Almost immediately, the Elgin side scored another try with the kick again falling short for 7-65.
 Moray scored their final try of the afternoon when Douglas Ireland took a pass from Craig Forster and showed pace to leave the defence trailing in his wake. Few fathers could celebrate their son’s success as closely as Ian Ireland did, as he had returned to the field to see out the end of the game. Ian’s post match claim that he was in support was somewhat dubious. Hickey pulled the kick leaving the score 7-70.
To complete the scoring, Craig Dunain scored a late try which was converted leaving the final score Inverness Craig Dunain 14 Moray 70. You will note that this does not tally with the Referees official recorded score of 14-65 which remains a mystery.
It is fair to say that the Inverness side added greatly to a very entertaining and open game of rugby and could have had more points on the board. Moray, however, were clinical in attack and took their chances well when presented.
This Saturday, Moray are away from home again at RAF Lossiemouth. The Fliers are always a strong team and a close encounter is expected.
Work on refurbishing the Clubhouse is progressing well and the reopening will be for the home game on the 3rd October.
(For more images, click here)
|
| Back to News Archive |
|
n
Caledonia 2 North |
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
Last 1st XV Game |
| 1st XV Season (2021/22) |
| Banff 33 - 39 Moray |
| 5th Mar 22 - KO: 15:00 |
| Venue: Duff House |
|
