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News Article |
| MORAY 27 LOSSIE 24 |
| Wed 16th Nov 2011 |
 Moray edged a victory against RAF Lossiemouth by 27 points to 24 in a hard fought local derby last Saturday, in their latest RBS Caledonia Regional League Division 2 North fixture.
The opening quarter of the game was a tight affair with most of the play in midfield and the only opportunity being a penalty kick to Lossie which was pushed wide.
In the 25th minute, however, the home side took the lead. A penalty was awarded 5 metres from the line after a 5 minute spell of sustained pressure in the 22. Scrum-half Aled Herbert quickly took a tap penalty and with the support of the forwards, drove over the line for an unconverted try and a 5-0 lead.
Five minutes later, the flyers were back on level terms at 5-5 when their scrum half drifted through some slack defence and scored an unconverted try out wide.
 In the last play of the first half, the Elgin side regained the lead. A sliced clearance from inside the 22 was gathered, driven back towards the line and a ruck set. With most of the Moray attack on the blind side, the ball was moved open and it looked like the chance was gone. Full-back Andrew McBean received the ball and knowing that he did not have much support, he grubbered the ball towards the line and was first to get to the ball and score a great individual try. He converted his own try for a half time score of Moray 12 RAF Lossiemouth 5.
Four minutes into the second half, the home side stretched the lead. A flowing handling move took play into the opposition 22 and a ruck. The ball was spun and wing Richard Woods received the ball out wide and went for the line. He was tackled by two defenders but cleverly offloaded to captain and wing Marc Higgins who had supported and he scored an unconverted try out wide for a 17-5 lead.
The lead was reduced almost immediately from the restart. The Lossie forwards regained the ball and with the home defence in disarray, a simple handling move saw the wing score out wide. The difficult conversion kick was superbly landed to reduce the lead to 17-12.
Five minutes later, it was even at 17-17 when the flyers scored an unconverted try after some strong running and some missed tackles saw them breach the Moray defence.
 In the 60th minute, the Lossie side took the lead. The Elgin side looked to be in control at a ruck midfield but the ball was fly-hacked from the base and the chase was won by the visiting centre and he scored under the posts. The conversion was slotted for a 17-24 lead.
From looking to be in a comfortable position after scoring early in the second half, the home side now found themselves chasing the game.
In the 67th minute, a good handling move by the backs saw McBean make a break up the left wing. Quick ball was moved from his set ball and replacement full-back Ryan Anderson came into the line outside the centres, cut inside the defence and score. McBean added the conversion points to level the game at 24-24.
Moray pushed hard to get the winning points and in the 74th minute were handed a kickable opportunity when Lossie infringed on the 22. McBean calmly stepped up and slotted the kick for a 27-24 lead.
 In the last few minutes, the flyers frantically tried to get into the home 22 and manufacture a winning try and Moray tried to play the game in the opposition half but the final whistle went with the Elgin side winning by 27 points to 24.
It had been a bruising and hard fought local derby battle with both teams scoring four bonus point winning tries and the only difference being that Moray landed the penalty that they were given.
This Saturday Moray are away and face another tough encounter at Ross Sutherland.
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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 |
|
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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