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News Article |
| BANFF 17 MORAY 20 |
| Mon 16th Jan 2012 |
The Moray 1st XV played their first game in over a month and narrowly defeated Banff by 20 points to 17, in a Caledonia Regional League Division 2 North fixture at Banff.
The Elgin side took to the field with a number of forward regulars missing due to injury and unavailability but immediately took the game to the opposition. Only some sound defending by the home team kept the scoreboard at nil all.
In the 14th minute and against the general run of play, the Banff side took the lead. They were awarded a penalty in their first foray into the opposition 22 and from the resultant kick, they took a 3-0 lead.
A minute later, however, it was 3-3 when full-back Andrew McBean landed a penalty after holding on the deck.
5 minutes later, the Elgin side took the lead. Stand-off Chris Clarke cleared the ball from his 22, getting good distance to set up a line-out on the home 10 metre line. The ball was taken against the throw and quick hands moved the ball through the back division to wing Cameron Hughes, with space, and he made the line for the try out wide. McBean superbly landed the extra conversion points from the touch line for a 3-10 lead.
The visitors were now in the ascendancy and in the 26th minute added another try. Some good driving play by the forwards took them to a scrum 5. Clean ball was taken and the ball again moved swiftly through hands to Hughes who ran in his 2nd score of the afternoon. McBean added the conversion for a 3-17 lead.
Half time : Banff 3 Moray 17
The home side started the second half brightly with their big forwards running hard at the Moray defence and in the 45th minute, they narrowed the lead. After a period of driving at the line, a penalty was given 5 metres out and the home scrum-half quickly tapped and went and made the line for a converted try and a 10-17 score line.
The visitors were being made to work very hard in defence but were up for it and when they produced quality ball, the backs looked very dangerous with ball in hand. Getting good ball was difficult, however, as it was being spoiled at the breakdown by the Banff forwards.
In the 67th minute, Moray were awarded a penalty 30 metres out when a high tackle halted a play in midfield. McBean calmly slotted the kick to stretch the lead to 10-20.
A few minutes later, another penalty was awarded in the 22 for holding on the ground. The decision this time was to take a scrum to tie in the forwards and hopefully give room for the backs to conjure up a try. Unfortunately the execution behind the scrum was not up to scratch and the opportunity lost.
In the last 5 minutes, the home side frantically tried to get back in the game and with 2 minutes left on the clock, they scored a second try. The try was somewhat fortuitous as the referee missed a knock on before the forwards drove over the line for a converted try, reducing the lead to 17-20.
The remaing couple of minutes were a bit frantic but the visitors held out to record a win and a final score of Banff 17 Moray 20.
Both sides had been a bit rusty after such a long lay off due to the weather but they had served up a hard fought encounter and credit should be given to the forwards who filled in for the regulars as they all fought hard and put in a good shift.
This Saturday, Moray are at home and welcome Garioch for another league fixture. This will be another tough match and the Elgin side will be out to avenge the narrow defeat they suffered in Inverurie earlier in the season. Kick off is 2pm.
The Moray Rugby Club Annual Ceilidh is to take place on February 11th with dancing to the ‘Hale Jingbang’. Tickets are available by contacting Graham Stables on Elgin 546200.
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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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