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News Article |
| ABERDEEN WANDERERS 13 MORAY 27 |
| Tue 5th Apr 2011 |
 Moray visited Aberdeen Wanderers last Saturday to play the 1st leg of the Caledonia Division 2 North Play Off and secured a 27-13 lead to take back to the 2nd leg at Morriston on April 16th.
After only 2 minutes of play, the Elgin side took the lead. A penalty kick took them to a line out, 15 metres out. Clean ball was taken and the forwards drove toward the line and set up ruck. Scrum-half Johnny Haslam moved the ball blind to stand-off Craig Forster and he breached the defence to score. Wing Dale Smith added the conversion points for a 0-7 lead.
Moray were lively in this opening period and were causing real problems to the home defence.
In the 7th minute, they extended the lead. The Aberdeen side were penalised for handling on the deck in their 22 and Dale Smith slotted the kick for 0-10.
Wanderers edged their way back into the game and in the 14th minute, they reduced the lead. The visitors were penalised for not releasing after the tackle and the resultant kick was landed for 3-10.
 The Groats Road team went on to have a good spell and in the 20th minute reduced the lead further. A long pass was thrown in an attacking move which created the space out wide for the wing to run in the score. The conversion attempt was pulled leaving the score 8-10.
The home side were right back in the game but it was Moray who began to take some control in the game. In the 35th minute, they extend the gap. Wanderers were on the attack on the half way but a dropped ball was fly-hacked through and No 8 Greig Smith got to the ball first. He picked and drove for the line only to be taken down a couple of metres out. Centre Andrew McBean was on hand though and he picked up and breached the defence to score. Dale Smith converted for 8-17.
To round off the half, Dale Smith landed another penalty from 25 metres to leave the score 8-20 at the interval.
 Moray started the second half as brightly as they had the first and within a couple of minutes had moved further ahead. The Aberdeen side missed a touch kick and Forster ran the ball back to a ruck. Quick ball was moved to Greig Smith who drew the defence and then released Captain and Centre Marc Higgins, who scored under the posts. Dale Smith converted for 8-27.
Back came Wanderers and in the 53rd minute, they scored a try out wide after they took ball against the throw at a line out, 15 metres out. The conversion attempt came up short leaving the score 13-27.
 The final 20 minutes of the game saw both sides have opportunities to add points but none were added due to a combination of unforced errors and sound defence.The final whistle went with the score at Aberdeen Wanderers 13 Moray 27.
It had been a determined and all round good performance by the Moray side and the win was well deserved. This is only half time in the north play off, however, with the 2nd leg to be played at Morriston on Saturday 16th April.
In the meantime, Moray conclude their league fixtures this weekend when they play Strathspey at Kingussie.
More images from this match can be found in the Gallery here.
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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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