Skye v Moray 2nds
(Thanks to Fraser Andrews for the notes and photograph)

Moray 2nds recorded a fine victory, by 45 points to 20, away to Skye last weekend in a Caledonia League Division 2 North fixture.
The visitors started brightly and in the 11th minute were awarded a penalty try, for a 0-7 lead, when Skye infringed in a clear try scoring opportunity.

In the 21st minute, they increased their lead. Strong scrummaging on the 22 was taken blind by scrum-half Iain Stuart before being returned back inside through hands to full-back Bruce Darling to score an unconverted try for 0-12.
In the 26th minute, the island side reduced the lead to 3-12 following a penalty for offside.

The Elgin side’s scrum was dominant, creating real problems and around the half-hour mark, injuries to home front row, as a result of a huge drive, meant that scrums moved to uncontested.
A couple of minutes later, clean line-out was spun wide to wing Shane Wainwright to score. Stand-off Gregor Hands landed the kick off the post and then the crossbar for 3-19.

In the 37th minute, Stuart picked up at the back of a scrum, 10 metres out, broke blind before returning the ball inside to wing-forward Chris Robottom to score the bonus point try. Hands landed the conversion for 3-26.

On the stroke of half-time, in open play, the ball was moved wide to centre Toby Jeffreys to make the line for an unconverted try and a 3-31 half-time score.

A succession of penalties by the visitors early in the second half handed Skye the opportunity to score a converted try, reducing the lead to 10-31.

A quick penalty and a storming run by No 8 Alex Stronach, 5 minutes later, created the opportunity to spin the ball wide with centre Euan Willetts receiving the inside pass to score. Hands added the extras for 10-38.

In the 60th minute, Moray added their final try of the afternoon. A mistake by the islanders, at an attacking scrum in the 22, allowed Stuart to pick up the ball and show a clean pair of heels to score, a try converted by Hands for 10-45.

In the final quarter of the match, Moray conceded two unconverted tries for a final score of Skye 20 Moray 2nds 45.

After a long bus journey, it had been a good all round display and deserved win by the Moray team, scoring 7 tries. Special mention should go to the forwards for a very strong and dominant display in the scrum.

This Saturday Moray 2nds welcome Stornoway to Morriston for another league fixture. Kick-off is early at 1.30pm.
Moray 1sts are on the road this weekend to play Mackie in Stonehaven.