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News Article |
| MACKIE ACADEMY FP 25 MORAY 1ST XV 55 |
| Wed 1st Nov 2017 |
 Moray 1st XV made their way to Stonehaven last Saturday to play Mackie Academy FP’s in a BT Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture and came away with a convincing 55 points to 25 win.
Moray kicked off against a strong wind, immediately regained the ball and set about their first half plan which was to keep ball in hand and take it to the opposition.
In the 6th minute, this paid off and they took the lead. A line on the half-way was secured and moved to wing-forward Marc Higgins who made ground and in contact moved it to John Stuart. The big No 8 barged his way through a couple of tackles before passing to his brother, centre Ewan Stuart, who drifted through a hole in the defence to score out wide.
 Full-back Callum Wright could not add the conversion points leaving the score at 0-5.
The Elgin side continued to dominate the early period of the game but in the 13th minute, Mackie were handed a penalty, 30 metres out, when the ball was held on the ground. The penalty was landed by the stand-off, to reduce the lead to 3-5.
This was the catalyst for the home side to get themselves into the game. They started to use the wind well and in the 18th minute took the lead when the full-back supported a breach into the 22 and scored a converted try for 10-5.
Three minutes later and with the visitors attacking, the Mackie centre charged down an attempted chip through, regathered the ball and made the line for another converted try and a 17-5 lead.
 From the restart, the ball was returned to the Moray half by way of a lofty ‘up and under’ and when Wright knocked-on the attempted catch, wing-forward Neil Wiseman picked up the ball in an offside position and gave away the penalty. The kick was landed and the lead stretched to 20-5.
The Elgin side had seen plenty ball and generally had stuck to their game plan but now found themselves 15 points off the lead.
 They returned to the plan and in the 28th minute reduced the lead. Strong running by forwards and backs took them into the home 22 where a penalty was awarded for offside. A quick tap was taken and a long pass from stand-off Jonny Haslam reached Marc Higgins who fumbled the ball but fortunately it went backwards and wing Lewis Scott was on hand to pick up and make the line for an unconverted try and a 20-10 score line.
From the restart, Moray secured the ball and after a few phases of driving play from the forwards, the ball was moved in a running attack through the hands of Marc Higgins, Ewan Stuart and finally to scrum-half Callum Watson who outstripped the defence to score in the corner. Wright’s conversion attempt was dragged wide by the wind leaving the score at 20-15.
In the 36th minute, the visitor’s added a fourth and bonus point try.
 A penalty was given on their own 10 metre line which was quickly tapped and run by John Stuart who barged his way into the Stonehaven side’s half. In contact, he offloaded to Marc Higgins coming at pace and he had enough gas to make it under the posts to score. Wright converted to give Moray the half-time lead at 20-22.
Moray dominated possession in the early part of the second half but could not add to their tally due to some inaccuracies and a committed home defence.
In the 57th minute, against the run of play, Mackie scored to regain the lead when they turned over ball in their 22 and after a couple of phases they released the wing, who ran the length of the pitch to score an unconverted try out wide for 25-22.
 The Elgin side did not panic and got back to pressurising the opposition in their 22. In the 66th minute, their persistence paid off. After a number of drives for the line, the ball was moved left to second-row Ross Joy who had the strength to barge over the line. Wright added the conversion points for a 25-29 lead.
The ball was regathered from the kick off and a running move took them deep into the Mackie half where the ball was deliberately knocked-on. The referee waited for any advantage and Wright followed up, collected the ball and scored a try which he converted for 25-36.
Moray were causing the home side real issues with ball in hand and from the kick-off, the ball was driven, set and moved to Ewan Stuart who broke the defence and then offloaded to Scott who scored his second of the afternoon.
Wright added the conversion points for 25-43 and the visitors were now in complete control.
 In the final five minutes of the game, the Elgin side added 2 further tries.
Firstly, after a break by Haslam, the ball reached Wright and he chipped and then collected to score his 2nd try which he converted for 25-50.
To round off the afternoon, Moray ‘man of the match’ Marc Higgins picked up ball in the opposition 22 and prodded the ball towards the line. Scott anticipated the kick and made it to the ball first to score his third.
Wright could not add the conversion points leaving the final score at Mackie Academy FP 25 Moray 1st XV 55.
It had been a very good all round display by the Moray side who had played the windy conditions well.
They stuck to the game plan in the first half to run the ball back at Mackie and try to limit them possession which worked well in the first quarter and after having gone 15 points down, they did well to get themselves in front by the end of the half.
In the second half they were very patient and a dominant final quarter with 5 unanswered tries put the result beyond doubt.
There is now a break for the Autumn Tests and the next league match is not until December 2nd when they are at home against table toppers Ellon. As the clocks have now gone back, kick off will be 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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