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News Article |
| ROSS SUTHERLAND 17 MORAY 31 |
| Sat 4th Oct 2014 |
 Moray continued their winning streak when they overcame Ross Sutherland by 31 points to 12 in Invergordon last Saturday, in a Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture.
The Invergordon side kicked-off but it was the visitors that threatened first and they were awarded a penalty when the Ross backs were pinged for offside. Wing Andrew McBean stepped up and landed the kick for a 0-3 lead.
Three minutes later, McBean knocked over a second penalty for 0-6 after a high tackle in mid field.
Moray had the upper hand at this stage and were creating chances but didn't manage to get over the whitewash. In the 11th minute, a third penalty was awarded when the home side were again caught offside. McBean bisected the posts from 30 metres for a 0-9 lead.
Ross came more and more into the game and in the 18th minute put their first points on the board. A scrum to the visitors on their own 22 metre line was taken against the head. A couple of driving phases later and with the defence in disarray, they went over the line for a converted try reducing the lead to 7-9.
The Elgin side returned to the offensive and 5 minutes later, regained their 9 point lead. A passage of play took the attack deep into the home 22 and to a penalty, 5 metres out. A quick tap was taken and wing-forward Harvey Freeman drove for the line but was held out. He recycled the ball and it was moved wide to No 8 Ross Joy who made the try line in the corner. A superb kick from the touch-line by McBean saw the conversion points added for a 7-16 lead.
In the 30th minute, Moray extended their lead. After some good driving in midfield, the ball was moved wide and McBean found enough space to squeeze in at the corner. He could not convert his own try leaving the score at 7-21.
 On the stroke of half-time, the home side narrowed the lead when their left wing broke through three tackles to score. The conversion kick was missed leaving the half-time score, Ross Sutherland 12 Moray 21.
The Invergordon side took the game to the visitors in the early part of the second half. This, along with a struggling line-out, put real pressure on the Moray side and in the 55th minute they conceded a third try. The ball was moved wide left to the dangerous wing and he had the pace and guile to run outside the defence and score an unconverted try out wide for 17-21.
From having been in a comfortable 14 point lead after 30 minutes, it was now game on as Ross were right back in it.
The Elgin side dug deep and began to secure better ball and take the game to the home side. A couple of difficult penalty kicks were missed by McBean before they added to the lead in the 70th minute. After a good passage of running play, replacement wing forward Kris Morrison made the line but was held up. The home side were penalised at the resulting scrum and McBean landed the kick for a seven point lead at 17-24.
 Ross tried to reply but in the 76th minute, replacement wing Calum Wright intercepted ball in an attack on his 10 metre line. His race for the line was halted 5 metres short but he set ball and it was moved to prop Connor Cameron who was also stopped, this time a metre from the line. Scrum-half Callum Watson was quickly on hand to pick up the ball and dive over the line for the try. McBean added the final points of the afternoon leaving the final score Ross Sutherland 17 Moray 31.
It is always satisfying to come away with a win from Invergordon but Moray had left it late to secure the points. They had put themselves under a lot of pressure in part due to a degree of inaccuracy at line kicking and at the line-out throw. Nonetheless, the team showed great character and heart when Ross started coming back at them and in balance were worth their win.
This Saturday, visitors to Morriston are Lochaber for a Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture. Kick-off is 3pm.
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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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