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News Article |
| MORAY 1ST XV 29 ELLON 17 |
| Tue 5th Dec 2017 |
 After a four week layoff for the Autumn Internationals, Moray 1st XV returned to BT League Division 2 North action last Saturday when they welcomed league leaders Ellon to Morriston and after a fine performance they ran out 29 points to 17 winners.
The Elgin side got off to a great start when after only a minute of the game, centre Harvey Freeman picked up loose ball 15 metres from the line and had the speed and strength to score the try.
The Aberdeenshire side were a bit gobsmacked as there was a knock-on but luck was with the home side on this occasion as the referee was unsighted and the score was given.
Full-back Callum Wright pulled the kick wide leaving the score at 5-0.
From the restart, wing-forward Neil Wiseman took the ball cleanly and set off on a powerful run up field.
In contact, he offloaded to supporting scrum-half Callum Watson who had the pace to outstrip the defence and score. Wright added the conversion points for a 12-0 lead.
It had been a great start but with 2 minutes, Ellon showed their mettle and why they are top of the league and got themselves on the board.
A penalty was given, 30 metres out, when the home side went over the top at a ruck and the ball was despatched to an attacking line-out, 5 metres out.
 Clean ball was taken at the line and a tight maul set which drove the Moray pack back over the line for an unconverted try reducing the lead to 12-5.
For the next 20 minutes or so, the game became a battle in mid-field with defences prevailing but it was clear in this period that the Elgin scrummage had the upper hand, putting their counterparts under intense pressure at every opportunity.
In the 30th minute, however, Moray extended their lead. Clean ball was secured at a line on the Ellon 10 metre line and move wide. Centre Alex Stronach came on the crash ball and set up good ball when he was halted.
The ball was again moved quickly from the ruck and Freeman took the ball at pace, broke the line and scored his second. Wright added the conversion for 19-5.
Seven minutes later, the Aberdeenshire side again reduced the lead. Attacking in the 22, the ball was chipped into space and the open side wing-forward made it to the ball first to secure and roll over to score, a try which was converted for 19-12.
On the stroke of half-time, the home side had forced their way into the 22 and were attacking the line through forward pick and drives.
Captain and hooker Lewis Higgins picked and drove and a combination of his strength and support from some fellow forwards took him over the line for the bonus point try.
 Wright added the conversion points and the whistle went for a half-time score of Moray 26 Ellon 12.
Ellon started the second half brightly and in the 49th minute, they reduced the lead again.
This try was a duplicate of their first where they kick for position and an attacking line-out, secured ball and drove the home side back over the line for an unconverted score and 26-17.
As in the first half, the teams cancelled each other out in the middle part of the half through good defence on both sides.
In the 66th minute, the visitors forced another attacking line, 5 metres out, but in this instance the Moray pack stood strong, forced the turnover and cleared their lines.
In the 73rd minute, the Elgin side engineered a great opportunity to extend the lead but after several phases of play in the 22, a knock-on halted their progress.
 Moray were managing the game well in the final minutes by pressurising in the opponents half and 2 minutes from time, they were awarded a penalty, 20 metres out, when Ellon handled on the deck.
Wright stepped up and landed the kick to stretch the lead to 29-17, the final score.
It had been a very good all round display from the Moray side against the league leaders Ellon and they had deserved their win. They had been really strong in the scrum and strong running in the forwards and particularly at centre had caused real issues all afternoon.
This Saturday, Moray 1st XV are away of league business to 2nd place Garioch.
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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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