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News Article |
| NORTH POLICE SCOTLAND 54 MORAY 17 |
| Wed 4th Dec 2019 |
 An inexperienced Moray side were well beaten by 54 points to 17 by a big and well organised North Police team last Saturday in their latest Tennent’s Caledonia North Region League Division 2 North fixture in Aberdeen.
Moray could only muster a squad of 17 for the away trip due to a large number of injuries, and the toll of a hard-fought match and a 4g pitch saw them finish the match with only 13 players on the field due to further injuries.
 The Elgin team started the game brightly and after only 2 minutes took the lead. A penalty was given for not rolling away at a tackle in the 22 and when Rory Millar’s attempt came back off the upright, it was regathered and driven to a ruck. Fergus Nicol picked up at the base and broke round the side and over the line. Millar added the conversion for 0-7.
North Police started to use their big forwards to run at the defence and in the 13th minute, following a drive, the ball was opened wide to score a converted try and tie things up at 7-7.
 These tactics were working and three more similar tries were scored in the next 15 minutes to gain a convincing lead at 26-7.
In the 33rd minute they added another for 33-7 when a mix up at the back of a defending scrum in the visitor’s 22 allowed the wing forward to pinch the ball and score.
 Moray finished the half strongly and reduced the lead when Mark Taylor scored an unconverted try after some good driving and popping play, leaving the half-time score at 33-12.
The Elgin side hoped to move on from here but early in the second half, they leaked a line-out and were punished with another converted try for 40-12.
 Moray contested well in the next 20 minutes culminating in a third try. An attacking scrum on the Police 22 was cleanly taken and the ball moved through the backs. Marc Higgins took the ball on a good line to drift through a gap and score an unconverted try for 40-17.
A few minutes later, and with both subs used, the visitors were reduced to 14 when Lachlan Jones had to come off following an ankle injury.
 Eight minutes from time, the Aberdeen side added another for, 47-17, following a turnover in the 22.
The Moray spirit was still there and in the final minutes they tried hard to get a fourth try for a bonus point and on a couple of occasions came close but were thwarted.
 North Police completed a successful afternoon by scoring a final try in the 85th minute. They turned over Moray attacking ball in their 22 and a couple of passes later, the wing had room to run three quarters of the length of the field to score for 54-17. David Grigor never gave up the chase but unfortunately suffered a calf injury which meant the Elgin side finished the final minutes of the game with 13 men.
The North Police team had been strong and clinical and worthy winners but the Moray side had stuck in well and were a bit unfortunate not to come away with a bonus point.
 There is no fixture this Saturday and hopefully this will give a chance to get some players back from injury. The following week Moray are away to Mackie Academy.
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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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