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News Article |
| MORAY U18 V KIRKCALDY – CALLY BOWL SEMI FINAL 9/3/14 |
| Wed 12th Mar 2014 |
 Moray u18s made the long trip down to Kirkcaldy on Sunday for their Cally Bowl semi final and put up a gutsy performance but lost out to a good Kirkcaldy team who took their chances and progressed to the final with a 27-12 win.
Moray’s match preparation had been frustrated with a lack of games due to a lack of games in February and a bye through a previous round but the youngster started well and after seeing off some early pressure in their own 22 from the home team worked their way into the Kirkcaldy 22 where the pack charged down a clearance kick and then some quick offloads set up a ruck which allowed stand off Duncan Steven to side step the defence and go in under the posts. Lewis McDonald converted to make it 0-7 after 7 minutes.
Kirkcaldy responded well and their big centre broke upfield only to be stopped with a try saving tackle by full back Kieran Young.
Both teams were probing the opposition defences but Kirkcaldy slowly gained the upper hand through the first half and scored a try after 30 minutes finally stretching the visitors defence and going over in the corner to get 5 points on the board.
Full back Young was replaced after a heavy tackle and Moray reshuffled their back line.
The team was further disrupted when flanker Dale was yellow carded after the team were warned for persistent offside offences.
From the penalty Kirkcaldy sucked in the Moray defence with a series of rucks on 5 m before they eventually crashed over to make it 10-7 at half time.
The second half started positively with good driving play and offloads from Duncan Steven, Gregor Devlin, Joe Hough and Anthony Brownless getting them within 5 m before Kirkcaldy cleared their lines.
The visitors continued the pressure but couldn’t get the score the desperately wanted.
 After 12 minutes Kirkcaldy get their noses further in front moving play wide along their backline before setting up a ruck in the Moray 22. Their no 8 broke up the blindside and went over in the corner to make it 15-7.
Moray were not going to give up easily and no 8 Drew Cooper gathered the ball at the tail of a lineout on the Kirkcaldy defence and offloaded to Joe Hough in support who was stopped just short of the try line.
Moray’s pack couldn’t get to the breakdown fast enough and the home team were able to relieve the pressure with a kick to touch.
On 20 minutes Kirkcaldy got themselves some breathing space after winning a scrum for a knock on in the Moray 22 and using a couple of rucks to commit defenders before crashing over to make it 20-7.
Moray replied well and were camped in the home teams 22 for the next 5 minutes before being delivered a sucker punch when the Kirkcaldy centre and man of the match, intercepted a Moray pass on 5 m and ran the length of the pitch to get the score a converted try to seal the game.
The visitors refused to lie down though and showed great character to finish the game with a well worked try wide on the left by winger Anthony Brownless making the score 27-12.
The final five minutes saw Moray continue to press their hosts but they were unable to get more points on the board.
This was a great game to watch and with a bit more match practice Moray could have got the result they were after.
The back line had never played together before and in spite of that all performed with great credit – centres Will Davidson and Robbie Hickie were strong in defence and offered options in attack.
Cameron Beattie had a good match on the wing and stepped up to full back when required to by injury to Young.
Gregor Hands coped well with an unfamiliar role on the wing and Anthony Brownless is a deceptively fast prop come winger!
McDonald and Steven at 9 and 10 controlled the game well and created opportunities throughout the game.
In the forwards the second row of Hough and Devlin was strong and dominated in the set piece, helped by Kris Morrison, Lewis Scott and Warren Grieves in the front row.
Alex Dale, Drew Cooper and Gavin McDonald were always playing on the edge of the offside line as a good back row should and kept the strong Kirkcaldy centre under wraps for a lot of the game.
Moray will now face either Aberdeen Wanderers or Orkney in the Cally Plate final at Canal Park in Inverness on the 23rd of March – a game they have every chance of winning if they can play their best rugby.
In the u16’s competition Moray u16’s lost 34-33 away to Hiilfoots and will play in the plate final.
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| Aberdeenshire |
12 |
46 |
| Highland 2nd XV |
11 |
46 |
| Moray |
12 |
40 |
| Ross Sutherland |
10 |
22 |
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19 |
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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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