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News Article |
| ABERDEEN GRAMMAR FP 2’S 45 V MORAY 14 by Brian Foreman |
| Fri 29th Nov 2019 |
 Moray travelled to the Granite City last Saturday in the latest round of the Tennants Caledonia North Region League Division 2. Unfortunately, they returned home after suffering a lopsided defeat at the hands of hosts Aberdeen Grammar FP 2’s, by 45 points to 14.
On an overcast, damp afternoon, the visitors were literally caught cold by a red hot start from the home team, as they clinically punished Moray mistakes and turnovers in an opening twenty minute spell that garnered five unanswered tries.
In the third minute Moray spilled possession in the Grammar twenty-two. The ball was run back, criss-crossing the field before the Centre cut through some loose tackling to score near the posts.
 On ten minutes; in what would become a recurring theme, Grammar kicked long, pressured the Moray return and the ball was turned over, this time allowing the big second row to crash over. The recipe was repeated on thirteen and sixteen minutes with two more tries courtesy of their Centre and Stand-off. The early scoring rout was completed when a dropped pass in the Moray twenty-two was scooped up by the Centre who ran in untouched for a 31-0 advantage.
 To their credit, and not for the first time, Moray found it within themselves to fight back. On 24mins a rare foray into Grammar territory produced their first good passage of play before Marc Higgins burst into the twenty-two through a gap in the home defence. The ball was recycled just short of the line and second row John Westmacott dived in at the left corner to the team’s obvious delight. Rory Miller made an excellent conversion against the elements to eat into the deficit.
 With the clock winding down to half-time, defence quickly turned into attack, as this time Moray stole possession and the vibrant Marc Higgins broke free on a long run down the left. Once again he was stopped short but support was on hand and two quick passes later full back Lachlan Jones strolled in under the posts for an excellent try that even the home fans were applauding. Millar added the extras to give a half-time scoreline of 31-14.
 Energised by the first half fightback, Moray continued to press throughout the second period, barely allowing the hosts out of their own half but deteriorating conditions lead to numerous handling errors and a well organised home defence prevented Moray from getting an all important third try that may just have started to cast doubt in Grammar minds.
As is so often the case when the pressing team don’t score, the opposition hit them with a sucker punch, or in this case two. On sixty-eight minutes a Grammar pack, that had suddenly started to dominate, provided good ball deep in Moray territory and the stand-off waltzed past some tired tackling to score under the posts. The final nail was hammered home four minutes later with the hosts once again in complete control.
 Although well beaten, Moray showed that when they do the basics right, they can compete with anyone but slow starts and loose tackling will inevitably lead to trouble. A return to Aberdeen this weekend to face North Police will give them an immediate opportunity to bounce back.
(Thanks to Brian Foreman for the Report and Jimmy Officer for the photos)
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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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