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News Article |
| S1/2 MRFC TOUR REPORT – 23-24/05/14 |
| Thu 29th May 2014 |
Being the first overnight rugby trip these players had taken, they were obviously excited.
Recent form had suggested that they had been doing well, so they were looking forward to their trip to Thurso.
A half way stop off at Asda in Tain gave a chance for the players to stretch their legs.
The improving weather enabled up to have some great views of the scenery on our way up the A9, not that the squad was particularly interested!
But thanks to our driver, we arrived in Thurso, at the Caithness RFC clubhouse on time.
 After a quick wreckie of our hosts facilities and off loading all the bags from the coach, we walked into town, to our pre arranged evening meal at the Y-not Bar.
Our balcony tables and wall TV showing the football final gave the guys a good environment to enjoy their evening meal. As the game went into extra time after the bill was paid, the guys jogged back to catch the last part of the game, on the TV in the Clubhouse.
 Plenty of ‘hot air’ was expelled while they watched the last part of the match…shame we couldn’t see the Heineken Cup final!
After the football on TV, the guys began to sort out their sleeping arrangements. Being their first time away, it was anticipated that they would take a long time to settle, and so it proved…With most of the murmurings not settling down to about 1:30am!!!
Plus, with no curtains and an early sunrise, the guys woke up early too!! The ‘burning the candle at both ends’ would prove to be their undoing later…….
 Simple cereal and toast breakfast was available, after which the guys chilled out, with some catching up on zzzz’s.
Soon the energy levels began to rise, so went outside in the amp cloudy morning to do some warm up drills. As we practiced the host team started to arrive and our sleeping room was turned into the post meal dinning room.
Our usual pre-match routine completed, we awaited the game.
 The Wick/Thurso based players were probably the tallest on average, that we had faced all season, and with energy levels quickly disappearing the outcome of the fixture quickly slipped away from the Moray boys, but despite this, they kept trying and their few efforts in attack should have been rewarded with a consolation try, but given the fact that some players experienced heavy knocks, the stuffing had been taken out of them, and they ended the match scoreless.
Post match the guys quickly licked their wounds, and washed off the defeat to enjoy the host’s hospitality and catering.
 No sooner was the food was finished, but our coach reappeared for our journey south. Packing up all the bags and boarding the coach, the guys had what could be the first of many trips away as part of Moray RFC.
Between sleeping, listening to music and chatter, the trip back was quiet, with the players and coaches able to ponder on the trip as a whole. The journey, sleeping and match, and it would be very easy to say that the friendly match and trip was unsuccessful, but the whole experience was a good learning opportunity for particularly the guys stepping up to Under 15 rugby next season, with the potential of several long trips north in their league fixtures??
Overall, the guys appeared to enjoy the experience, and for that alone, the whole plan was worthwhile.
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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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