Moray book place in semi-final

MORAY won through to the semi-finals of the RBS Caledonia Regional Bowl by beating Bridgehaugh 20-13 in Stirling.

Bridgehaugh kicked off to a Moray pack determined to keep the ball tight in the slippery conditions. Both sides struggled to control the ball with plenty of handling error. Consequently, neither side could gain an advantage or exert any pressure.

Eventually, Moray progressed into the Bridgehaugh 22 metres with some strong running by the back row trio. Bridgehaugh conceded a penalty which scrum half Aled Herbert took on the tap, but was tackled before gaining 10 metres. Another penalty arrived, this time kickable for full back Andrew McBean, 3-0 to Moray.

From the kick-off, Moray made good progress back into the Bridgehaugh 22, but knocked on to concede the scrum. Moray won the scrum against the head and moved the ball wide, but again the conditions led to a knock-on. Dominant scrummaging again gave Moray possession and this time no handling mistakes led to captain Marc Higgins driving over in the corner. The conversion was missed making the score 8-0.

This score galvanised Bridgehaugh, with their fly half kicking for territory and keeping Moray tied in their own half.

This pressure finally paid off with a kickable penalty which Bridgehaugh duly took. The score was 8-3 to Moray.

After the turn-around, Bridgehaugh’s form was the stronger, with again the fly half pulling the strings. From an attacking line out Bridgehaugh gathered and drove forward and over the try line to even the scores at 8-8. The conversion was missed.

Most of the second half was played in the middle of the muddy pitch with Bridgehaugh exchanging players regularly to make use of a full subs bench. Moray only had two subs which had to be used wisely.

With the stalemate continuing well into the second half, Moray made the first change bringing on John Westmacott into the second row and moving No 8 Stuart Harrington to outside centre. This balanced the side and offered another dimension to the attack. However full time arrived with scores even and extra time a reality.

Just after the start of extra time, Moray fly half Johnnie Haslam sustained a leg injury and the second and last Moray sub had to be used. The reshuffle didn’t dent Moray’s determination and early in the second half a Moray drive enabled prop Lewis Higgins to burrow under a mound of players to score. The conversion was missed leaving the score 13-8 to Moray.

Bridgehaugh knew the missed extras offered them a lifeline and gave their all. The pressure began to tell with Moray conceding penalty after penalty. The referee ran out of patience and Lewis Higgins was the unlucky player to be sin-binned for hands in the ruck.

Although the resulting penalty went under the posts, Bridgehaugh needed to score a try. This they did but Moray had forced them wide and the conversion was missed. Thirteen-all with time running out.

From the restart, Moray forwards surged on and gathered possession on the left wing. Scrum half Herbert moved the ball right to hooker Rob Jolly who found himself standing in the fly half channel.

His well-timed pass enabled Harrington to break the gain line and off load to Marc Higgins who found space at last and attack the Bridgehaugh full back. The No. 15 did well to halt Higgins, but he popped the ball back to Harrington, who used his height to move the ball to James Taylor who was in the right place at the right time to make the last few yards to score under the posts.

McBean made the conversation and the referee blew for time. A tense and exciting tie ending in last minute victory for Moray, 20 points to 13.

Moray are back in league action this Saturday with a 2pm kick-off at Morriston against Aberdeen Wanderers.

In the semi finals of the Caledonia Regional Bowl, Moray will now play against Grangemouth Stags.