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News Article |
| MORAY 25 ABERDEEN WANDERERS 14 |
| Thu 17th Dec 2015 |
Moray won at home for the second week on the trot, last Saturday, when they defeated 3rd placed Aberdeen Wanderers by 25 points to 14 in their latest BT Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture.
The Elgin side started brightly and camped themselves in the Wanderers half for the first 15 minutes. On a couple of occasions within that period, they could have taken the lead but they could not convert the opportunities.
In the 18th minute, however, they took the lead. The Aberdeen side was caught offside at a ruck in their 22 and wing Callum Wright stepped up and slotted the penalty for a 3-0 lead.
Seven minutes later and with their first real attack in Moray territory, the visitors put their first points on the board. A missed tackle in mid-field allowed the inside centre to get behind the defence and a simple offload allowed his centre partner to score a converted try under the posts to take the initiative at 3-7.
This started a good spell for the Aberdeen side but some strong and resolute defending by the home side kept them out.
Moray started to get their hands on the ball again and in the 35th minute regained the lead. A defending line-out on their 22 metre line was overthrown by the visitor’s hooker and wing-forward James Shooter gathered the ball and sprinted for and made the line, brushing aside a couple of defenders on his way. Wright pulled the conversion attempt leaving the score 8-7.
The home side pressed for another score before half-time. It looked like it might not come when firstly the referee did not see hooker Lewis Higgins get the ball down over the line and secondly when stand-off Frankie Do Toit was stopped just short of the line. An attacking scrum 5 was given and after a couple of drives for the line, scrum-half Johnny Haslam opened the ball to the backs and quick hands took the ball to wing Andrew McBean who scored an unconverted try out wide for a 13-7 half-time lead.
After a few phases of play at the start of the second half, the Elgin side forced their way into the opposition 22 and were awarded an attacking scrum, 20 metres out. The scrum was again very solid and ball moved from the base. Replacement centre Harvey Freeman came into the line at pace and completely bowled over a couple of defenders to score under the posts. Wright added the conversion points for a 20-7 lead.
Moray were in control and almost immediately forced their way back into the visitor’s 22. A big drive at a scrum, 10 metres from the line, saw the Aberdeen NO 8 pick-up and set a ruck but the home side entered the break-down from the side and a penalty was given and the chance gone.
In the 63rd minute, the Elgin side scored their fourth and bonus point try. A number of driving phases by both forwards and backs took them deep into the opposition 22 but they lost the ball. Quickly they made amends by forcing an attacking line-out, 5 metres out. The line-out had been solid but on this occasion it was lost and the ball cleared to 15 out. The second line-out, however, was secured and moved to Freeman who again took the ball at pace and was stopped on the line. Second-row Connor Duncan was on hand to pick the ball up at the back of the ruck and dive over for an unconverted try and a 25-7 lead.
Two minutes later, Wanderers were back in the game when a missed tackle allowed the centre to make his way toward the line. He was tackled just short but offloaded to his supporting centre partner to score a converted try, reducing the lead to 25-14 with 15 minutes still on the clock.
Moray returned to the offensive but it was the Aberdeen side that had the last decent chance to score. In the 35th minute, two consecutive infringements by the home side allowed them to kick to touch, 20 metres out. They took clean ball at the line and set a drive but aggressive defence by the home side forced a knock-on. Solid scrummaging by the pack delivered good ball and the clearance to be made.
The final 5 minutes played out leaving the final score Moray 25 Aberdeen Wanderers 14.
It had been another good all round performance by Moray against a side who have been playing well as third place position in the league is testament to. Once again the scrum had been very strong, winning their own ball but also putting huge pressure on the opposition and disrupting and winning some against the head. In the loose, the back-row were outstanding with James Shooter the best of the bunch and worthy ‘Man of the Match’. Behind the scrum, the backs, apart from a couple of missed tackles, put in a very good shift in defence and when in attack, took on and caused problems for their counterparts with some strong running.
This was the last game of 2015 and the next league match is at home to Stornoway on the 9th of January, weather and ferries dependent. 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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