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News Article |
| MORAY 1ST XV 20 RAF LOSSIEMOUTH 19 |
| Wed 17th Oct 2018 |
 Moray 1st XV narrowly defeated RAF Lossiemouth by 20 points to 19 at Morriston last Saturday, in the first local derby Tennent’s Caledonia North 2 fixture of the season.
On a very wet afternoon and not the best conditions for an expansive game of rugby, the Lossie side kicked off.
Early encounters clearly highlighted that handling in the conditions was going to be very difficult as both team spilled ball in good positions.
In the 7th minute, a high tackle gave the home side the opportunity to open the scoring. Wing Andrew McBean landed the 25-metre kick for 3-0.
With the RAF team unable to field a designated front row, all scrums were uncontested.
 In the 20th minute, a mix up at a defending scrum in the Lossie 22, allowed wing-forward Ruaraidh MacKessack-Leitch to get his foot to the ball and follow up to score.
Stand-off Rory Millar added the conversion points for 10-0.
Eight minutes later and after a phase of pressure in the 22, the RAF side opened their account.
Following a number of drives at the line, they managed to squeeze over in the corner for an unconverted try, reducing the lead to 10-5.
 In the 35th minute, they took the lead.
A loose pass in the Moray 22 was knocked-on and from the resulting scrum, the Lossie No 8 picked up and drove over the line.
With the conversion kick landed, the visitors had the half-time lead at 10-12.
 The home side started the second half brightly and in the 46th minute, following a passage of play in the 22, regained the lead.
A ‘pick and go’ from the base of a scrum by replacement No 8 James Shooter saw him held up over the line and another attacking scrum 5 awarded.
He again picked up at the uncontested scrum but this time, made it over the line for the score.
Millar added the conversion points for 17-12.
 Moray continued to press but some inaccuracies and the fact that the ball was like a bar of soap in the wet conditions meant that they could not add to their tally.
In the 61st minute and after their first concerted period of pressure of the second half, the RAF side retook the lead.
The Elgin side were penalised a number of times for offside in defence, in the 22, and after committing another offence following a scrum 5, the referee considered that a certain try was stopped illegally and awarded a penalty try for 17-19.
 The home side returned to the offensive and in the 72nd minute were awarded a penalty, 30 metres out, when Lossie strayed offside in the backs.
McBean calmly stepped up and landed the kick to once again regain the lead at 20-19.
In the 75th minute, a further kicking opportunity to increase the slender lead was narrowly missed and Moray held on against some strong pressure in the dying minutes to record a narrow victory at Moray 20 RAF Lossiemouth 19.
 As is the norm for this local derby encounter, it had been a really committed and tight game of rugby but in truly awful conditions.
The lead had gone back and forth on a number of occasions and Moray were delighted to have gained their first league victory of the season.
This Saturday, Moray 1st XV are away on league business to Garioch.
 The Moray 2nd XV fixture last Saturday was cancelled as Aberdeen Wanderers 2nd XV could not raise a team.
This Saturday there is also no fixture as it is the team’s lay weekend.
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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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