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News Article |
| MORAY 26 LOCHABER 36 |
| Tue 25th Sep 2012 |
 Moray were beaten by Lochaber, by 36 points to 26 last Saturday, in their latest fixture of the 2012-2013 RBS Caledonia Regional Division 2 North league.
The Elgin side started brightly and put the visitors under pressure in their own 22 but could not put points on the board.
In the 8th minute and somewhat against the flow of play, Lochaber took the lead. In their first foray into the home 22, they took the ball against the head of a scrum 5 and their No 8 picked, drove and made the line for an unconverted try and a 0-5 lead.
Moray returned to the offensive and in the 17th minute they opened their account. With ball in hand, they drove up the right side of the park and into the 22. Ruck was set and the ball moved wide. A back move created the overlap and wing Ewan Simpson was put into space and made the line out wide. Full-back Andrew McBean landed the tricky conversion for a 7-5 lead.
Two minutes later, the home side extended the lead when No 8 Ross Joy went over the line after some good work by the forwards at an attacking line-out. McBean pulled the kick wide leaving the score 14-5.
A mistake from the restart allowed the Fortwilliam side to pick up the loose ball and make the line between the posts. The conversion was slotted to reduce the lead to 14-12.
 This gave them fresh impetus and they became the dominant side in the final 25 minutes of the half. In this period they scored 2 tries, one from a slick handling move by the backs and the second from a driving and popping move by the forwards, leaving the half time score, Moray 14 Lochaber 24.
The home side tried to up their game in the early parts of the second half but in the 50th minute, another mistake cost them another try. Ball was lost midfield in an attack and the visiting wing picked up and went for the line. He was brought down 5 metres out but set up ball. A couple of rumbles later, the forwards were over the line for an unconverted try and a 14-29 lead.
 Moray now had a mountain to climb but 7 minutes later, they reduced the lead to give themselves hope. They forced their way to a line, 10 metres from the goal line. The visitors took the ball against the throw but made a mistake and dropped the ball. Joy quickly picked up and drove over the line. McBean added the conversion points to reduce the lead to 21-29.
The home side were back in the game but the Fortwilliam side were determined and with their stand-off dictating play, they were always dangerous. In the 70th minute and attacking from inside their own half, the ball was lost in the tackle allowing a Lochaber player to pick it up and make the line for a converted try and a 21-36 lead.
This was now a commanding lead but the Elgin side never gave up and scored a bonus point try in the last minute of the game. Replacement John Martin drove at the visiting forwards and set up ball. The ball was moved quickly through hands and wing Douglas Ireland had enough room to make the line out wide. McBean pushed the kick wide leaving the final score Moray 26 Lochaber 36.
 The Fortwilliam side were absolutely delighted with their victory, one which they had worked extremely hard for and deserved. Moray were disappointed but they had come up against a very determined side who have turned their form round this season after a few years struggling and who remain undefeated this season.
Moray have another difficult fixture this Saturday when they make the trip to Inverurie to play Garioch, the other undefeated team in the league.
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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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