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News Article |
| DEESIDE 19 MORAY 1ST XV 15 |
| Tue 5th Sep 2017 |
 Moray 1st XV travelled to Banchory last Saturday to face Deeside in a BT Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture and disappointingly left having lost by 19 points to 15 in a game they should have won.
Deeside kicked off and Moray, on receiving the ball, immediately went on the attack but the home defence put their bodies on the line and stood strong.
The visitor's scrum was strong from early on and the Deeside eight found themselves being driven backwards at a rate of knots.
Ball was turned over and moved through the hands of scrum-half Callum Watson to stand-off Frankie Du Toit who looked to get his back line running but a fumble in mid-field meant the threat was over.
The Banchory side were under pressure and opting to kick but a wayward clearance was run back and a penalty awarded for an infringement.
Winger Andrew McBean stepped up and put the ball clean between the posts for a 0-3 lead
A few phases from Deeside looked like it got them back in the game when they put Moray under a bit of pressure but a turnover ball in the ruck by 2nd row Connor Duncan, put the visitors back into the attack.
 A few phases later, open-side flanker Neil Wiseman, ball in hand, twisted and turned, eventually crossing the line for the first try of the game.
McBean's conversion took the lead to 0-10.
Moray continued to dominate and after a series of driving rucks, the ball was eventually moved wide to tight-head prop Nathan Gilmore in the wing channel.
He broke through the home defence and was finally stopped just short of the line. Watson was quickly on hand and shipped the ball to Duncan to crash over the line.
McBean hooked the conversion leaving the score at 0-15.
This stung Deeside into action and they came back strongly, opening up a sleeping Moray defence with some good footwork and hands and scored a try in the corner.
A superb conversion kick followed and they were now back in the game at 7-15, the half-time score.
The early part of the 2nd half saw both teams go head to head at a multitude of scrums and line-outs but the visitors eventually started to make ground with centre Ben Roberts taking the ball at pace and crossing the line only to be denied by a controversial double movement decision by the referee.
 The Banchory side returned to the attack and their influential second -row powered his way into the Elgin side's half and through some lacklustre tackling but was eventually stopped and ball turned over. Watson quickly moved the ball to Du Toit and he made good ground up field and after a couple of passes, centre Alex Stronach took the ball and made the line.
For a second time, the try was disallowed, this time the referee declared the ball was held up, a view not shared by the Moray coaching staff and supporters.
Deeside turned this disappointment for Moray to their benefit and scored a second try under the sticks which was converted and saw the lead reduced to one point at 14-15.
The Elgin side returned to the attack and Moray 'man of the match' Du Toit again made good ground into the home half and set up ruck ball.
Watson shipped the ball to replacement hooker Chris Robottom who managed offloaded to fullback Callum Wright.
He side-stepped 2 defenders and reached out and dabbed the ball down on the line for the score. For a third time, however, the referee chalked off the try for no apparent reason.
 Moray turned and faced the home team going into the final minutes of the game but it was Deeside who had the sucker punch which saw them counter from their own 22 and score the decisive final unconverted try of the game to win by 19 points to 15.
A disappointed and frustrated Moray will now get back to the training ground at Morriston to prepare for the next home game against Aberdeen Grammar 2nds on the Saturday 16th September.
An early kick-off is being proposed so please keep an eye on either www.MorayRFC.co.uk or the Moray Rugby Club Fan Zone on Facebook.
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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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