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News Article |
| INVERNESS CRAIG DUNAIN 7 MORAY 58 |
| Tue 18th Jan 2011 |
 Last Saturday, Moray returned to action for the first time since November when they travelled to Inverness and comprehensively defeated Craig Dunain by 58 points to 7 in a Caledonia League Division 2 (NW) fixture.
The Inverness side kicked off, playing with the considerable wind but it was the visitors that immediately put them under pressure. Within two minutes they took a 0-5 lead when full-back Dale Smith scored an unconverted try out wide after some good handling by the backs.
From the restart, wing-forward Neil Wiseman collected the ball and drove at the defence. In contact, he slipped the ball to scrum-half Johnny Haslam and he almost made line. Hooker Dan Thomas was up in support though and took the pass to score. Place kicking into such a strong wind was difficult and Smith missed the conversion leaving the score 0-10.
In the 12th minute, the home side replied with a try. The scrum half picked up from the base of a scrum and broke blind before putting the wing into the gap to break the defence and score. The conversion was landed to reduce the lead to 7-10.
 Four minutes later, however, Moray stretched the lead. The ball was picked up at the base of a scrum 5 by No 8 Ross Joy, driven blind and a ruck set up. Ball was moved left and wing Steven Cruickshank beat the defence to score an unconverted try for 7-15.
The Elgin side were playing into the windy conditions well by driving and popping and although a bit rusty due to the long layoff, were making good inroads into the home defence.
In the 24th minute they scored the bonus point fourth try. Ball was picked up at a scrum on the 22 and after a number of driving and offloading surges, wing-forward Stuart Harrington broke the defence and scored another unconverted try for a 7-20 lead.
 Five minutes from half-time, Moray scored their final try of the first half. Clean ball was taken at a scrum 5 and moved left. Stand-off Craig Forster looped to create the overlap and fed wing Ewan Simpson who scored in the corner. The wind added to the difficulty of the kick and Andrew McBean’s attempt came up short leaving the half-time score, Inverness Craig Dunain 7 Moray 25.
The visitors kicked off the second half and immediately regained the ball, spun it wide and replacement wing John Hester scored the try. McBean missed the kick from out wide to leave the score 7-30.
Five minutes later, Haslam scored under the posts when he picked up a loose ball at a home scrum inside the 22. McBean landed the first conversion of the afternoon for 7-37.
 In the 55th minute Thomas scored his second try of the afternoon. An attacking scrum in the 22 was driven to the right and then set up. Haslam fed Thomas coming at pace and he broke the defence to score. McBean landed the additional points for 7-44.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Harrington also got his second try of the afternoon. After some scrappy loose play around the 22, the ball was moved left and the big back row finished the move off with the try. McBean landed the kick from an acute angle for a 7-51 lead.
 In the 75th minute, Moray scored their final try of the afternoon. The move started in their own 22 and some good continuity play between forwards and backs released centre and Captain Marc Higgins who had the strength and pace to make it to the line from 25 metres out. McBean landed the conversion to leave the final score Inverness Craig Dunain 7 Moray 58.
The Moray side had been glad to get back playing after a long layoff due to the bad weather and although there was an element of rustiness, they won the game with reasonable comfort. The wind was also a big factor and had made line out throwing and handling very difficult. Nonetheless to score 10 tries and a cold and windy afternoon is commendable.
This Saturday Moray are back at Morriston and play Stornoway in a league fixture with kick-off at 2pm.
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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 |
|
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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