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News Article |
| MORAY 58 ROSS SUTHERLAND 18 |
| Thu 9th Dec 2021 |
 Moray returned to action for the first time in 5 weeks and produced a convincing 58 points to 18 victory over Ross Sutherland last Saturday. This maintained their unbeaten record and retained top spot of the 2021/22 Tennent’s Caledonia North Region Division 2 league.
After conceding an early Rory Millar penalty lead following a high tackle, Ross got themselves in front when a drive from an attacking line-out in the 22 was spun wide and the defensive line broken for an unconverted try and 3-5.
 In the 14th minute, however, the Elgin side regained the lead. An under-pressure clearance from the 22 was fielded and several phases of continuity driving took them deep into the 22. The ball was moved quickly through hands from the base of a ruck and Archie Duncan made the corner for an unconverted try and 8-5.
Two minutes later, Moray were caught offside and the visiting stand-off landed the kick to level the scores.
On 25 minutes, a solid attacking scrum, 35 metres out, allowed Calum Smith to pick up ball and break to the blind side. Once again quick hands produced the overlap and Jonny Haslam ran in the unconverted try for 13-8.
 Four minutes later, Haslam scored his second when after a good break by Duncan, the ball was moved wide and he broke the defensive line to score. Millar added the conversion points for 20-8.
The home side continued to apply pressure and with 5 minutes to half-time, they added their fourth and the bonus point try. A break by Euan Kirkwood, from his 22, saw him put boot to ball and follow up to pressurise. The defending full-back tried to clear but the ball ricocheted off a Moray player. Lewis Scott was first to respond and a couple of grubbers later he touched the ball down over the line for and unconverted try and a half-time lead at 25-8.
 Moray continued to press after the break and on the 4-minute mark, they added another try. A penalty took them to an attacking line-out, 15 metres out. Clean ball was taken and following a number of phases of driving and open handling play the ball was moved to Millar who went for the line and made it, a try which he converted for 32-8.
Millar added his second in the 52nd minute when he was on hand to finish off a fine piece of continuity handling play by both forwards and backs which split the visiting defence apart. He added the conversion extras for 39-8.
 Three minutes later, Steven Clark pounced on a poor tap back at a defending 5 metre line-out and made the line for a try, converted by Millar, and a 46-8 lead.
The pressure continued and in the 59th minute, the Elgin side made it 53-8 when Duncan got his second, a converted try, following a blind-side break and quick hands from a scrum on the Ross 10 metre line.
 The visitors were down but showed great character when in the 66th minute, on their first venture of the half into the attacking 22, they scored an unconverted try, for 53-13.
Seven minutes from time, Smith picked up ball at the base of a scrum on the opposition 22 and broke blind, breaking a number of tackles to score an unconverted try for 58-13.
 Ross had the final say in the game when in the last minute and following a number of penalties, they scored out wide for a final score of 58-18.
It had been a good all-round display by the Moray side which the sizeable crowd had thoroughly enjoyed. They had been strong in the tight but with ball in hand they had been exceptional, with both forwards and backs contributing to this and causing the Ross side huge problems all afternoon.
This Saturday, the team will have probably the biggest game of their season so far when they visit a resurgent Aberdeenshire in Aberdeen.
(More images from this match can be found in the Gallery
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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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