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News Article |
| STRATHSPEY 14 MORAY 59 |
| Tue 12th Apr 2011 |
Moray concluded their Caledonia League Division 2 (NW) season when they comprehensively defeatedStrathspey by 59 points to 14 in Kingussie last Saturday.
The home side kicked off, with the wind at their backs and after 5 minutes took a shock lead. Moray were penalised for not releasing at the tackle, 5 metres out, and a quick tap and go was easily run in for the score. The conversion was landed for 7-0.
This stirred the Elgin side into action and two tries in a minute saw them take the lead. Firstly, centre Ryan Anderson scored an unconverted try after a mazy run saw him leave four defenders in his trail. Immediately from the restart, wing-forward Stuart Harrington ran the ball back, breached the defence and offloaded to stand-off Craig Forster, who ran in the score. Wing Dale Smith landed the conversion to take the score to 7-12.
In the 15th minute, the visitors stretched the lead. Forster made a break and sent out a long pass to wing Andrew McBean who in turn passed inside to Captain and centre Marc Higgins coming at pace. He broke the defence and scored under the posts. D. Smith never got the opportunity to add the conversion points as the referee adjudged him to have taken longer than a minute in his preparation, leaving the score 7-17.
A deft kick through in the 28th minute was collected by McBean and a couple of passes later, Forster scored his second and the bonus point winning try. This time Smith landed the kick for 7-24.
In the 33rd minute, Anderson scored his second of the match. Loose ball was picked up on the home 10 metre line and the ball moved wide to the centre,who rounded the defence to score. Smith added the points for 7-31.
Two minutes from half time, Strathspey reduced the lead. For a second time they scored from a quick tap penalty in the 22. They converted for 14-31, the half time score.
Within 5 minutes of the restart, the Elgin side had moved further ahead. Ball was taken against the head at a scrum on the home 10 metre line and then moved through hands. Higgins made the break and offloaded to Forster to run in his third try. Smith converted for 14-38.
Five minutes later, it was 14-45 when a long pass from Forster gave Higgins the room to score his second and another converted try.
In the 67th minute, Aled Herbert who had moved from full-back to scrum-half, pinched the ball off his opposite number at the rear of a scrum, 20 metres out, and ran in the score. Smith added the conversion for 14-52.
Five minutes from time, Forster rounded off the afternoon with his fourth try when Harrington offloaded to him after picking and driving from the base of a ruck. Smith landed his 7th conversion of the afternoon to leave the score, the full time score, Strathspey 14 Moray 59.
Moray had reacted positively to losing the early score and went on to a very sound and convincing win. The tight play of the forwards was good but it was with ball in hand that the damage had been done. Support to the man with the ball was exemplary and they had run in 9 good tries. Strathspey voted Craig Forster as ‘man of the match’ for his commanding performance at No 10 as well as his 4 try haul.
This Saturday, the Elgin side play the second leg of the play offagainst Aberdeen Wanderers at Morriston. Moray take a 27-13 lead into this match.
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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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