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News Article |
| MORAY 2ND XV 18. KINLOSS EAGLES 31 |
| Wed 21st Feb 2018 |
 After a hard fought battle, Moray 2nd XV narrowly lost out by 31 points to 18 to local derby opponents Kinloss Eagles in their latest BT Caledonia League Division 3 North fixture at Morriston last Saturday.
The Elgin side took the game to the visitors in the opening minutes of the game with some good picking and driving play and in the 10th minute, they took the lead. After some good driving play by the forwards deep in the Eagles half, the ball was spun to full-back Chris Clarke who landed a drop kick from 20 metres out for a 3-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Kinloss got themselves on the score-board when after their first foray into the home 22, their Fijian scrum-half picked up at a ruck, threw a dummy before straightening and made the line for a converted try and a 3-7 lead.
 The home side returned to their driving game plan and in the 17th minute, they were awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck on the 22. Clarke stepped up and landed the kick for 6-7.
Moray were winning plenty ball and were playing good rugby and in the 28th minute, they took the lead. A penalty kick took them to an attacking line, 10 metres out. Clean ball was taken and a drive ensued but a penalty was given. A quick tap was taken and a couple of recycle phases later, prop Daniel Davidson broke the line a scored an unconverted try for a 11-7 lead.
 The home side continued to press in the remainder of the half but no further points were added.
In the first few minutes of the second half, the Elgin side continued where they left the first half but in their first attack of the second half, in the 46th minute, the visitors took the lead. Having progressed into the 22, the ball was opened to the backs and their Fijian inside centre spotted and drifted through a hole in the defence to score a converted try for 11-14.
 Kinloss were now winning more ball and two tries in two minutes around the 60-minute mark increased the lead to 11-26. The first came through a backs move after a period of pressure in the 22 and the second when lost ball in midfield was pounced on by the scrum-half and he had enough pace to outstrip the defence and score.
Moray picked themselves up and progressed into the visitor’s 22 with some good driving and popping play. In the 34th minute, a penalty was given after an infringement at an attacking scrum, 8 metres out. A quick tap was taken and after a couple of driving phases, stand-off Witkowski managed to make the line. He converted his own try to reduce the lead to 18-26.
 The Elgin side tried hard to reduce the lead further but it was the Kinloss side who, two minutes from time, scored the final points of the afternoon when after some strong driving play, the scored and unconverted try out wide for a final score of 18-31.
It had been a really plucky and hardworking display by the Moray side. In the first half they had scrummaged well, retained possession well and had been well organised in defence, deserving of their half-time lead. After the break, the Kinloss side, who are now table -toppers, won more ball and had made the best of opportunities with ball in hand.
 Moray 2nd XV's next league fixture is away to Aberdeen Wanderers 2nd XV on the 3rd March.
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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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