Ross Sutherland 33 Moray 26

Moray suffered their 2nd defeat, of the Arnold Clark Caledonia North 1 league season, when they lost 33-26 to Ross Sutherland in a hard fought encounter in Invergordon last Saturday. They did leave, however, with 2 bonus points; 1 for scoring 4 tries and 1 for being within 7 points at the final whistle.
The Invergordon side kicked off, with the wind advantage, and in only 4 minutes opened the scoring. A scrum in the opposition 22 was taken and as it turned, the No 8 picked up and made the line for an unconverted try and 5-0 lead.
In the 10th minute, Moray replied. A scrum,18 metres out, presented the opportunity to move the ball wide and centre Rory Millar delayed the pass putting fellow centre Ben Taylor into the gap to score. Millar converted to take the lead at 5-7.
Four minutes later Ross took the lead at 12-5 after a converted try was scored following a number of attacking phases in the 22.
Over the next 20 minutes or so, the Elgin side piled the pressure on the home side and were awarded several infringement penalties in the 22. Although they threatened the line on a number of occasions, good defence, held up over the line and inaccuracies put pay to these opportunities.
In a sucker punch in the last seconds of the half, Ross scored a third converted try from a scrum pick-up by their No 8 for a half-time score of 19-7.
The home side came out of the blocks in the early part of the second half with some strong running and from this possession scored two converted tries, in the 48th and 52nd minute, to stretch the lead to 33-7.
Moray were stunned but knuckled down and in the 55th minute scored. Ball from a line, 15 metres out, was taken and driven for a couple of phases before being shipped wider. Millar received the ball and for a second time put Taylor into the gap to score. Millar converted for 33-14.
There was renewed urgency from the visitors and in the 68th minute, they narrowed the lead further. A quick tap penalty, in the 22, was taken by No 8 Cameron Hughes and he went for the line only to be stopped a metre short. Ball was quickly moved through hands to wing Mark Newman and he had enough room to squeeze in at the corner. Millar’s conversion kick from the touch-line agonisingly drifted wide to leave the score 33-19.
Moray were within 2 converted scores of a draw but time was running out. In the 75th minute, they added their bonus point try. A scrum in the 22 was taken and driven to a ruck. Ball was moved and wing-forward Beinn Hay broke a tackle and managed to make the line. Millar calmly added their bonus point conversion for 33-26.
In the last few minutes, the Elgin side tried to manufacture one last try opportunity but the home side bossed possession and the final whistle went with Ross recording the 33-26 victory.
It had been a hard fought encounter as it always is between these two sides. Ross had made the most of their opportunities and defended very well. Moray will be ruing missed opportunities but in the end had done well to salvage 2 bonus points having been 33-7 down.
This Saturday, Moray are away to Kinloss Eagles in a round 2 fixture of the National Shield. Kick-off is 1.30pm.