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News Article |
| MORAY U16 V ABERDEEN WANDERERS U16 27-11-2011 |
| Wed 30th Nov 2011 |
 Moray welcomed Aberdeen Wanderers to Morriston on Sunday and put in a stoic performance in wintery conditions to record their 3rd win in a row 24-10.
Moray kicked off into a fierce wintery shower and Wanderers took advantage of the conditions to force the game into the Moray 22.
They spent the first ten minutes camped in the Moray half and were unlucky not to score when their winger was tackled into touch on the corner flag.
Eventually the pressure told with quick ball from a ruck 10m out from the Moray line allowing their centre to break the home defence and score despite the home team’s claim of a dropped ball on the line.
The conversion made it 7-0 to the visitors.
The Moray team took up the challenge and from the restart drove the ball up into Wanderers 22.
Moray were awarded 2 penalties in succession which the forward drove up to the try line before flanker Trevor Jones piled over in the corner to open Moray’s account.
From the restart Moray prop Aaron Logan took a clean catch and thundered forward to the visitors 22. However Moray were penalised for holding on in the ruck which allowed the danger to be cleared.
 Moray were calling all the shots at this point and a break from their own half by full back Young who then offloaded to winger Hunte was unfortunate not to result in more points when Hunte pulled up on the wing with a muscle injury with the try line in sight.
Moray had to reshuffle their team as a result but this didn’t curb their hunger and after 25 minutes they rewarded with a second try after putting the ball through several rucks in the Wanderers 22 before hooker Lewis Scott powered over from 7m to make the score 10-7.
The home team were keen to add to their points tally before half time and from a scrum on half way stand–off Duncan Steven broke, offloaded to scrum half Smith who carried the ball forward before offloading to Prop Niall Ward who set up a ruck on the 22.
Moray quickly moved the ball wide to Josh Grundie on the wing who was stopped 10 m short of the line as the half time whistle went.
Moray started the 2nd half with the advantage of the slope and wind and took the game to the visitors.
They found it difficult to add to their points tally due to dogged defence and more shuffling of the team to cope with injuries.
Their frustration also led to moments of indiscipline which let the visitors off the hook on several occasions.
The game was becoming a tense affair and Wanderers levelled the score with 15 minutes left when they were awarded a penalty just outside the Moray 22 setting up a nerve racking final spell of the match.
Moray’s task of winning the game was only made harder when they had a player sin-binned shortly after for a late tackle.
 However they stuck in and a huge clearance kick by scrum half Smith took them from their own 22 all the way to the visitors 22 where they won a scrum after the visitors full back knocked on.
Flanker Jones picked up at the back of the scrum and powered to the try line only to be held up, Moray quickly recycled the ball and set up another ruck in front of the posts before centre Ewan Stuart picked up and drove over.
He converted the try to make it 17-10 with 6 minutes to go.
The visitors were not going to lie down and came back at Moray from the restart with driving play.
Moray kept them at bay by clearing a penalty to half way before Wanderers attacked again from the lineout.
Their winger was put under pressure by the Moray back line which allowed Josh Grundie to intercept the ball and sprint 70m and score the try to seal the match under the posts.
Ewan Stuart added the conversion to make the final score 24-10 to Moray.
This was another fine display, in freezing and wet conditions, from both teams which moves the Moray lads to 3rd place in the NE Premier league.
The forwards were strong in rucks and scrums and Alistair Couttie was outstanding in the lineout. In difficult conditions the backs managed to keep the ball in hand and use offloads to good effect.
Next Sunday they play table toppers Ellon at Morriston in what will be a stern test for them.
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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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