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News Article |
| MORAY 52 ELLON 16 |
| Mon 7th Dec 2015 |
 Moray returned to winning ways last Saturday with a comprehensive 52 points to 16 win over Ellon in their latest BT Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture.
The home side started the more aggressively but after 6 minutes, they found themselves 0-6 down after giving two penalties away which visiting centre Ally Addy calmly slotted.
One minute later, Ellon were pinged for coming in at the side of a ruck near the half-way line. A kick to touch took Moray to a line-out, 5 metres from the goal line. Clean ball was gained at the line and turned into a drive which took them over the line but the referee couldn't see downward pressure and awarded an attacking scrum 5. The resulting powerful scrum took them towards the line and No 8 Ross ‘Possum’ Joy picked up and scored out wide. Wing Callum ‘Para’ Wright landed the conversion for 7-6 lead.
 In the 13th minute, another penalty was despatched to a line, 5 metres out. Clean ball was taken and a driving maul took them close to the line. Ball was recycled, opened to the backs and stand-off Frankie Du Toit stepped inside his opbposite number and scored under the posts. Wright added the conversion points to extend the lead to 14-6.
Nine minutes later, the Elgin side again forced an attacking line-out, this time 10 metres from the line. A catch and drive was halted and after a couple of drives and rucks, scrum-half Johnny Haslam picked up and made the line for an unconverted try and a 19-6 lead.
In the 28th minute, Addy reduced the lead to 19-9 when he added a penalty after an infringement at a ruck 30 metres out.
 Two minutes later, Moray stretched the lead. A penalty kick to the visitors from 40 metres out landed short and centre Andrew McBean broke into the opposition half from his own goal line. His pass in contact did not go to hand but full-back Keiran Young fly hacked the ball on and was quick enough to make it to the ball first to score the bonus point try. Wright added the conversion for 26-9.
Moray were bossing the game and winning good ball from a dominant and powerful scrum.
In the 38th minute, they stretched their lead. After a period of pressure play in the opposition 22, the home side twice took ball against the head but knocked on. A third scrum was set on the 5 metre and a huge 'pundy' forced the visitor's backwards allowing Joy to pick up and score. Wright added the conversion points for a 33-9 half-time score-line.
The Elgin side continued to press and in the 51st minute added their 6th try. This time Wright was on hand to take an offload and score an unconverted try out wide for 38-9.
 It was not until the 15th minute of the second-half that Ellon were able to break into the home 22 when they forced an attacking line-out, 5 metres out. The Elgin forwards pinched the ball and a sliced Du Toit clearance was gathered by Wright and he made it into the Ellon 22 before being stopped and the ball toe poked to touch by a defender for an attacking line on the right touchline. Clean ball was taken and moved through hands and a ruck set in midfield. The ball was moved quickly to the right and replacement 2nd row Liam O'Brien took the ball and barged over the line for the score. Wright added the conversion points from out wide for a 45-9 lead.
Ellon replied in the 65th minute with a try of their own. The home side lost ball in their half and after a couple of switches in the backs, a converted try was scored reducing the lead to 45-16.
 Moray completed their point scoring in the 72nd minute when they added a final try. A scrum was awarded when the visitors knocked on, 5 metres from the line. The dominant scrum moved steadily towards the goal-line and Joy picked up to score his third of the afternoon. Wright added the conversion points for a final score of Moray 52 Ellon 16.
It had been a good afternoon for the Moray side who had put on a good all round display on a wet day with heavy ground conditions. They scored seven tries and the base for this good display had been the dominance of their scrummage and the plentiful supply of ball that this had produced.
This Saturday, Moray are again at home on league business with Aberdeen Wanderers the visitors. Kick-off is 2pm.
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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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