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News Article |
| MORAY 43 BANFF 15 |
| Mon 7th Feb 2011 |
 Moray progressed to the next round of the Scottish Rugby Regional Bowl last Saturday when they defeated Banff by 43 points to 15 after a hard fought encounter at Morriston.
The home side started brightly and threatened the Banff line but it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the 6th minute. After some strong driving in the 22, the ball was delivered to the stand off who landed a drop goal from 20 metres out for a 0-3 lead.
On a couple of occasions in the next 15 minutes, they were handed opportunities to increase the lead through penalties. Each time, however, they turned down the opportunity to kick for goal and instead went for the try. The Elgin sides defence stood firm and no points were added.
Banff at this stage were in control and in the 23rd minute, they extended the lead. Home ball was turned over in their 22 and the visiting forwards took advantage and drove the ball over the line for a converted try and a 0-10 lead.
A minute later the lead was reduced to 3-10 when wing Andrew McBean landed a penalty after handling on the deck.
 The Banff side continued to have the upper hand and in the 38th minute extended the lead to 3-15 when the left wing scored out wide after a good break by the full-back.
Moray finished the half in attack and threatened the line but defence held out for a half time score of Moray 3 Banff 15.
Within a minute of the restart, the home side reduced the leeway. The visitors were caught offside at a ruck and McBean landed the penalty for 6-15.
The Elgin side were now protecting the ball better at the breakdown and were starting to use the ball better in the open.
 In the 50th minute, they forced their way to a line-out, 5 metres out. Clean ball was taken and driven to a ruck. The ball was then moved wide through hands and McBean found enough room to outstrip his opposite number and make the line. He pulled the conversion attempt to leave the score 11-15.
Six minutes later they took the lead. Good handling play took the attack into the 22 and to a scrum 15 metres out. Clean ball was taken and the ball moved wide to wing Ryan Anderson who made it to the line. With McBean off injured, Anderson was handed the kicking duties but in this instance he was unsuccessful leaving the score 16-15.
The home side were in the ascendancy and now dominating the game.
 In the 61st minute, they extended the lead. A Banff scrum around the halfway was taken against the head and the ball moved wide, through hands, to a ruck 15 metres out. Stand-off Craig Forster was first to arrive and he picked up, broke blind and ran the try in unopposed. Anderson’s attempt came up short leaving the score 21-15.
Six minutes later, Anderson made it 24-15 when he landed a penalty after Banff infringed at a ruck. The 9 point lead now meant that the visitors would have to score twice to take the lead.
 Moray continued to dominate the game and in the 70th minute, they stretched the lead. Forster’s spiralled kick pushed play to a line-out inside the opposition 22. The resultant line-out was taken against the throw, driven and set. Scrum-half Johnny Haslam moved the ball and Forster took the ball at pace, broke the defence and scored under the posts. Anderson added the conversion points for 31-15.
 In the 77th minute, the home side once more breached into the 22. This time it was centre and captain Marc Higgins who did the damage. He set up ruck 10 metres out and when the ball was moved wide, Anderson had the space to run in the try close by the touch-line. His conversion attempt came up short leaving the score 36-15.
 In the last play of the game, the home side added another try. Centre and ‘man of the match’ Phil Abbott made the break into the 22 and offloaded to wing-forward Neil Wiseman who crashed over the line. Anderson converted and the whistle went with the final score Moray 43 Banff 15.
It had been the proverbial game of two halves. The first had been dominated by the Banff side and although honours at the line and scrum were about even, their forwards did well in the loose and they had turned the home side over on several occasions. The second half belonged to Moray. They began to turn the screw in the tight but it was in the loose that they dominated and turned the game. They scored 40 points without reply and had run in some excellent tries.
The next round is on February 19th with Moray away to RAF Kinloss.
Due to increasing player numbers, the Club is pleased to announce that a 2nd XV fixture against Inverness Craig Dunain has been arranged for this Saturday at Morriston, kick-off 2 pm.
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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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