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News Article |
| MORAY 17 BANFF 17 |
| Mon 17th Oct 2011 |
 Moray’s latest RBS Caledonia Regional League Division 2 North fixture against Banff, ended up in a 17-17 draw at Morriston last Saturday.
The Elgin side took to the field with no less than six 1st XV regulars missing due to injury and unavailability and immediately they were put under pressure by the opposition. In fact, the bulk of the first 25 minutes were spent defending but they stood firm and held out.
Having weathered the early storm, the home side came more and more into the game and squandered a couple of decent try scoring opportunities.
In the 35th minute, however, they took the lead. A break in midfield, by centre and Captain Marc Higgins, took play into the 22. After a couple of drives, second row Colin Sharp picked and drove over for an unconverted try and a 5-0 lead.
 Two minutes later, the lead was stretched. A line out on the Banff 10 metre line was taken cleanly and the ball moved quickly through hands. A loop move created space and wing Richard Woods rounded his opposite number and then had the awareness to make it under the posts before touching down. This made it easier for wing Andrew McBean to slot the conversion for a 12-0 lead.
Deep into first half injury time, the visitors got themselves on the board. A converted try was scored after a rumble by the forwards pulled in defenders and the ball was moved to the centre on the crash and he broke the defence to score.
Half Time : Moray 12 Banff 7
The home side started the second half brightly but it was Banff who scored the first points. A Moray scrum, 5 metres from their line, was pinched at the back and although it looked suspiciously offside, the referee let it go and they capitalised by spinning the ball wide and scoring an unconverted try to level the game at 12 points all.
 In the 56th minute, the Elgin side got their noses in front again. Ball was gathered from a clearance from inside the opposition 22 and replacement centre Ryan Anderson took the ball back to the goal line where he was held up. Replacement wing John Hester came in quickly, ripped the ball, spun and scored an unconverted try for the lead at 17-12.
Ten minutes later, Banff were back on level terms at 17-17. A deft kick towards the goal line was fielded but the defenders were bundled into touch 5 metres out. The visitors took clean ball and rumbled in the forwards to score out wide.
In the 76th minute, the visitors had a golden opportunity to clinch the game but the penalty kick from a relatively easy position was pushed wide.
Final Score : Moray 17 Banff 17.
Moray were disappointed to surrender their 100% winning record in the league this season but all in all, a 17-17 draw was a fair result. The big visiting forwards had played particularly well and had made it difficult for the home side to produce the good ball that the home backs thrive on.
This Saturday Moray are away on league business and face another tough fixture at Garioch.
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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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