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News Article |
| RAF LOSSIEMOUTH 17 MORAY 20 |
| Fri 1st Mar 2019 |
 Moray narrowly defeated RAF Lossiemouth by 20 points to 17 after a close and hard fought encounter, in their latest Tennent's Caledonia League Division 2 North local derby at the airbase last Saturday.
The RAF side kicked off and although the ball was initially taken cleanly, huge pressure on the exit saw the ball turned over and the home side make the most of it by scoring a converted try for a 7-0 lead.
 Moray got themselves into the game and in the 10th minute, they forced their way to an attacking line-out on the home 22. Clean ball was secured and following three powerful forward drives for the line, hooker Lewis Higgins went over for the try. Scrum-half Andrew McBean duly converted to level the score at 7 a piece.
In the 30th minute, following a period of good pressure by the visitors, the Lossiemouth side had a player yellow carded as the culmination of a number of offences. The penalty gave McBean an opportunity and he duly landed the kick for a 7-10 lead.
 Five minutes later, the home side had a second player sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on. Moray could not capitalise on the two man advantage with the RAF side defending manfully and the half-time whistle went with the score at RAF Lossiemouth 7 Moray 10.
Both Lossiemouth players returned early in the second half but the visitors were in the ascendency and pressing hard in the 22, close to the goal line. Unfortunately for the home side, an attempted clearance from the 'in-goal' area hit the cross bar and bounced kindly for centre Neil Robertson to gather and touch down for the try. The 47th minute try was converted by replacement Connor McWilliam for a ten point lead at 7-17.
 5 minutes later, another kickable penalty was awarded to the Elgin side but McWilliam was not able to land the kick to stretch the lead.
Around the 60th minute, the RAF team put together a period of sustained pressure in the opposition half which saw Moray concede a penalty on the 22. Their quick thinking scrum-half took a quick tap and scurried past a number of defenders, who were slow to reset, and scored under the posts. With the easy conversion landed, the score was now 14-17.
 The Elgin side conceded a further penalty in the 71st minute , in kickable range, and the home side capitalised by landing the kick and levelling the score at 17-17.
In the 77th minute, the Lossiemouth side had a player red carded when he spear tackled at a ruck. From the resulting penalty, Moray kicked for position and to a line-out in the 22. Clean ball was taken and several drives for the line ensued, all defended well. Having pulled in defenders and with time running out, the ball was moved wide but the home side had strayed offside and a penalty was given. McBean stepped up, held his nerve and slotted the kick for a 3 point lead at 17-20.
 From the restart and in the last play of the game, Lossiemouth tried hard to regain the ball but the visitors secured the ball and cleared the ball to touch to end the game.
It had been a typical hard fought local derby and the Moray team were delighted to come away with a win.
This Saturday, Moray are at home on league business when they welcome Garioch. Kick-off reverts to 3pm.
(Thanks to Mitch and Fraser for the notes and to Fraser for the photos)
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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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