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News Article |
| BRIDGEHAUGH V MORAY - CALEDONIA REGIONAL BOWL – RND 2 |
| Tue 1st Nov 2011 |
Moray made the journey down to Stirling to play Bridgehaugh at the Stirling County RFC ground.
On a heavy pitch Bridgehaugh kicked off to a Moray pack determined to keep the ball tight in the slippery conditions.
Both sides struggled to control the ball with plenty of handling error. Consequently neither side could gain an advantage or exert any pressure.
Eventually Moray progressed into the Bridgehaugh 22 metres with some strong running by the back row trio.
Bridgehaugh conceded a penalty which scrum half Aled Herbert took the tap but was tackled before gaining 10 metres.
Another penalty, this time kickable for full back Andrew McBean, 3 nil to Moray.
From the kick off Moray made good progress back into the Bridgehaugh 22 but knocked on to concede the scrum. Moray won the scrum against the head and moved the ball wide but again the conditions lead to a knock on.
Dominant scrummaging again gave Moray possession and this time no handling mistakes lead to captain Mark Higgins driving over in the corner. The conversion was missed making the score 8 – 0.
This score galvanised Bridgehaugh with their fly half kicking for territory and keeping Moray tied in their own half for the last 10 minutes of the half.
This pressure finally paid off with a kickable penalty which Bridgehaugh duly took. The score was 8 – 3 to Moray.
After the turn around Bridgehaugh’s form was the stronger with again the fly half pulling the strings.
From an attacking line out Bridgehaugh gathered and drove forward and over the try line to even the scores at 8 apiece. The conversion was missed.
Most of the second half was played in the middle of the muddy pitch with Bridgehaugh exchanging players regularly to make use of a full subs bench. Moray only had two subs which had to be used wisely.
With the stalemate continuing well into the second half Moray made the first change bringing on John Westmacott into the 2nd row and moving Number 8 Stuart Harrington to outside centre. This balanced the side and offered another dimension to the attack. However fulltime arrived with scores even and extra time a reality.
Shortly into the first period of extra time Moray fly half, Johnnie Haslam, sustained a leg injury and the 2nd and last Moray sub had to be used.
The reshuffle didn’t dent Moray’s determination and early into the second half of extra time a Moray forwards drive enabled prop Lewis Higgins to burrow under a mound of players to score. The conversion was missed leaving the score 13 – 8 to Moray.
Bridgehaugh knew the missed extras gave them a life line and gave their all. The pressure began to tell with Moray conceding penalty after penalty. The referee ran out of patience and Lewis Higgins was the unlucky player to be sin binned for hands in the ruck.
Although the resulting penalty was under the posts Bridgehaugh need to score a try. This they did but Moray had forced them wide and the conversion was missed. 13 each with time running out and the lottery of kicks looking the likely outcome.
From the restart Moray forwards surged after ball and gathered possession on the left wing. After two or three phases scrum half Hebert moved the ball right to hooker Rob Jolly who found himself standing in the fly half channel. His well timed pass enabled Harrington to break the gain line and off load to Mark Higgins who found space at last and attack the Bridgehaugh full back. The No. 15 did well to halt Higgins but he popped the ball back to Harrington in support who used his height to move the ball to 2nd replacement James Taylor who was in the right place at the right time to make the last few yards to score under the posts.
McBean made the conversation and the referee blew for time. A tense and exciting cup tie ending in last minute victory for Moray, 20 points to 13.
Moray is back to league action this Saturday with a 2pm kick off at Morriston against Aberdeen Wanderers.
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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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