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News Article |
| MORAY 17 RAF LOSSIEMOUTH 18 |
| Wed 24th Oct 2012 |
Last Saturday’s local derby between Moray and RAF Lossiemouthin the RBS Caledonia League 2 North, went right to the wire with the flyers scraping through by 18 points to 17.
It was the Lossie side that had the early possession stats but in the 15th minute, it was the home side that took the lead. A penalty was given 18 metres out after an offside decision at the ruck. Scrum half Aled Herbert quickly took the penalty and forced his way through a number of tackle attempts to score out wide. Full back Andrew McBean landed the conversion kick for a 7-0 lead.
Seven minutes later, Moray increased the lead to 10-0 when McBean landed a penalty after another offside infringement.
The Elgin side continued to press and move the Lossie around but three minutes before half time, the visitors reduced the lead. This time it was the home side that were caught offside at the ruck and the Lossie inside centre landed the kick for a half time score of Moray 10 RAF Lossiemouth 3.
The RAF side changed tactics in the early part of the second half and took the game more through their forwards. This had almost immediate effect and in the 45th minute, they progressed into the home 22. After a couple of driving plays, the ball was chipped to the corner where the ball wickedly bounced away from the defence and allowed the visiting wing to reach the ball over the line for an unconverted try and a 10-8 score line.
Within two minutes, they had taken the lead. The Elgin were penalised for going over the top at a ruck, 30 metres out. The ball was kicked to touch. The line out was initially taken but Moray but was quickly regained and a forward drive set. In contact, the ball was offloaded and the defence opened up for a converted try and a 10-15 lead.
Five minutes later Moray replied and regained the lead. The move started in their own 22and driving, popping and offloading play took them into the visitor’s 22 to a ruck. Herbert broke open and passed to wing forward Marc Higgins who came at pace, at a great angle, broke the defence and scored under the posts. McBean landed the conversion kick for a 17-15 lead.
With 10 minutes to go, the home side had the opportunity to extend the lead. A penalty was given 30 metres out but in a muddy area of the field. Instead of going for goal, it was decided to go for touch but the ball flew too far and the chance was lost.
Lossie returned to the offensive and put a lot of pressure on the home side in their 22. The defence was holding out though but with only 5 minutes to go, ball was passed to the Lossie stand off and he dinked a drop goal over the bar to crucially put the flyers into a 17-18 lead.
The RAF side returned to the home 22 from the restart and in the last play of the game forced another penalty. The kick was missed and the Moray side ran the ball from their own line. Good progress was made and they made it into the visitor’s 22. A Lossie hand got to the ball in an offload pass, ball was secured and cleared and the whistle went with the final score Moray 17 RAF Lossiemouth 18.
It had been a physical game of rugby, with no individual team dominating and which had been close all the way through. From the position so close to the goal line, a drop goal had not been expected but it was this quick piece of thinking that had won the game for the RAF side.
Moray and Kinloss Kestrels P6/7 sides provided a nice touch at the beginning of the game when they stood guard of honour and clapped the teams on to the pitch. The youngsters had just played each other before the league match and put on a great show with the Moray side running out winners.
This Saturday, Moray are away on league business to 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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