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News Article |
| MORAY 8 RAF LOSSIEMOUTH 6 |
| Tue 14th Feb 2017 |
 Moray proudly lifted the BT Caledonia Regional Bowl North trophy at Morriston Playing Fields last Saturday, when they narrowly defeated RAF Lossiemouth by 8 points 6.
Encounters between the local rivals are always hard fought and competitive affairs and this final was no different.
The Elgin side kicked off, uphill, in front of a good sized crowd of supporters from both teams.
The RAF side created their first opportunity to take the lead after only 4 minutes but the penalty attempt drifted past the post.
Lossie continued to press during the first 10 minutes or so but the home defence stood strong and repelled any opportunity.
 In the 14th minute, Moray breached into the opposition 22 and were awarded a penalty for offside in the backs. The kickable opportunity was prodded to touch however, to a line-out, 12 metres out. The attacking line-out was stolen and after a couple of phases, the ball cleared.
The home side had the upper hand in the scrummage, were causing their opponents real problems and for the next period of the match, took the game to Lossie. Similar robust defence kept them at bay.
In the 35th minute, the RAF side were handed a penalty around the half-way line, for side entry, which they kicked to touch, 15 metres out. Clean ball was taken at the line and their big forwards drove for the line. Stout defence by the home side dislodged the ball for a knock-on and when clean ball was taken at the ensuing scrum, the danger was cleared.
With the half-time whistle looming, the Elgin side were awarded a penalty, centre field on the defending 10 metre line. Full-back Andrew McBean's 40 odd metre penalty attempt, although on line, agonisingly fell short of the posts leaving the half-time score Moray 0 RAF Lossiemouth 0.
The Visitors started the second half the better but missed a kickable opportunity immediately after the break as well as being thwarted from scoring a try when they were held up over the line after some excellent last gasp defence by the home team.
In the 58th minute, however, they took the lead when Rob Fielden landed a penalty kick from 30 metres, for 0-3, after Moray were pinged for holding the ball on the deck.
 The home side responded to this setback quickly and pressurised Lossie in their half. A similar penalty was given but centre Chris Clarke's attempt came up short. The visitors tried to run the ball back but were snagged and penalised for hands in the ruck. A line kick took Moray to 5 out and after a clean catch, they drove for the line. A Lossie defender entered the maul from the side and this time, with the dominant pack, a scrum was opted for.
A drive took them over the line but the ball was knocked on in the act of scoring, however, the Lossie side had infringed again and the penalty saw another reset scrum. This time there was no mistake and No 8 John Stuart picked up, as the scrum progressed over the line, and scored. Clarke's conversion attempt narrowly missed leaving the score at 5-3.
From the restart and with only 10 minutes to final whistle, an infringement at a ruck, 30 metres out, gave the RAF side the opportunity to re-take the lead. Fielden stepped up and calmly slotted the kick for 5-6.
 With time running out, some good continuity play by forwards and backs took Moray to an attacking scrum, 25 metres from the Lossie goal line. The scrum had been immense all day and once again took clean ball moving forward, allowing Stuart to pick and drive. The defence was offside, however, and as no advantage was gained, a penalty was awarded. Clarke stepped up with all the pressure on his shoulders, knowing that his kick, if successful, would win the bowl. With complete hush around the pitch, he calmly slotted the kick much to the delight of the Moray team, squad and supporters.
Final score Moray 8 RAF Lossiemouth 6
It had been a typical hard and committed encounter between the two local sides with both having good spells in the game, both putting in great shifts in defence but with Moray winning the battle in the scrummage.
Moray's next game, a BT Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture is at home to Banff on Saturday 4th March at 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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