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News Article |
| GARIOCH 38 MORAY 5 |
| Thu 20th Apr 2017 |
 It was a disappointing end to the 15 a-side season and the BT Caledonia League Division 2 North campaign last Saturday with Moray being well beaten by 38 points to 5 at Garioch.
With the wind behind them, the Inverurie side immediately went on the offensive and pinned Moray in their own half.
In the 5th minute, missed tackles allowed the lively inside-centre to go over for an unconverted try.
Five minutes later, a well worked move saw the open side flanker join a backs move and score a converted try to take the home side into a 12-0 lead with only 10 minutes on the clock.
 The Elgin side slowly began to win some ball and play themselves into the game.
In the 25th minute, an over-the-top decision against the home side, allowed Moray to kick the penalty to a line-out on the attacking 10 metre line. Clean ball was taken and wing-forward Marc Higgins broke through the line, offloaded to second-row Connor Cameron who made good ground into the 22 before setting up a ruck. Quick ball was moved to the blind side and stand-off Frankie Du Toit made the line out wide. Full-back Callum Wright's conversion attempt rattled back off the upright leaving the score at 12-5.
 Five minutes later, Garioch regained their 12 point advantage when the visiting defence didn't cope with some strong running and a converted try was scored.
Half-time Garioch 19 Moray 5.
There was hope that the side could turn the score round in the second half but after only 5 minutes, the home side stretched their lead.
 The inside centre, who was causing most problems, gathered the ball around the attacking 10 metre line and brushed off a number of tackle attempts only to be halted 5 metres from the line. With the defence in disarray, the ball was moved and the right-wing made the line for an unconverted try out wide and 24-5.
Moray reacted positively and for the next 25 minutes or so, spent the vast majority of the game inside the Garioch half with a large portion of that time inside the 22.
The Elgin side tried hard to get over the whitewash but some inaccuracies and unenforced errors, coupled with a very organised, strong and determined defence, meant they could not add to their tally.
 In the 76th minute and with virtually their first incursion into the visiting half since their previous score, the Inverurie side put a good passage of running and offloading play together which saw their No. 8 score under the posts. The conversion points took the lead to 31-5.
Two minutes later, the Garioch 'man of the match' inside-centre danced through some tired and lack lustre tackling for another converted try and a final score of Garioch 38 Moray 5.
 It had been a disappointing end to the campaign but the Elgin side had come up against a fired-up Garioch side who still had a chance of winning the league depending on a convincing win against Moray and the result of the Highland v Banff game going their way. They attacked hard from the start but it was the exemplary defensive organisation and effort, particularly throughout the long 2nd half period when Moray put them under considerable pressure, that had set them up for a deserved win.
The relatively young Moray side have achieved a great deal this season and will have learned a lot which will put them in good stead for next season.
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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 |
|
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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