Moray edge hard fought victory

MORAY edged a 27-24 victory against RAF Lossiemouth in a hard-fought local derby.

The opening quarter of the RBS Caledonia Regional League Division 2 North match was a tight affair with most of the play in midfield.

In the 25th minute, however, the home side took the lead. A penalty was awarded five metres from the line after a five-minute spell of sustained pressure in the 22. Scrum-half Aled Herbert quickly took a tap penalty and with the support of the forwards, drove over the line for an unconverted try and a 5-0 lead.

Five minutes later, the fliers were back on level terms at 5-5 when their scrum half drifted through some slack defence and scored an unconverted try out wide.

In the last play of the first half, the Elgin side regained the lead. A sliced clearance from inside the 22 was gathered, driven back towards the line and a ruck set.

With most of the Moray attack on the blind side, the ball was moved to the open side and it looked like the chance was gone.

Full back Andrew McBean received the ball and knowing he did not have much support, he hacked the ball over the Lossie line and was first to get to the ball and score a great individual try. He converted his own try for a half time score of Moray 12, RAF Lossiemouth 5.

Four minutes into the second half, Moray stretched their lead. A flowing handling move took play into the opposition 22 and a ruck. The ball was spun and wing Richard Woods received the ball out wide and went for the line.

He was tackled by two defenders but cleverly offloaded to captain and wing Marc Higgins who scored an unconverted try out wide for a 17-5 lead.

The lead was reduced almost immediately. From the restart, the Lossie forwards regained the ball and with the home defence in disarray, a simple handling move saw the wing score out wide. The difficult conversion kick was landed superbly to reduce the lead to 17-12.

Five minutes later, it was 17-17 when the fliers scored an unconverted try after some strong running and some missed tackles saw them breach the Moray defence.

In the 60th minute, the RAF side took the lead. Moray looked to be in control at a ruck in midfield but the ball was fly-hacked from the base and the chase was won by the visiting centre. He scored under the posts. The conversion was slotted for a 17-24 lead.

From looking to be in a comfortable position after scoring early in the second half, Moray now found themselves chasing the game.

In the 67th minute, a good handling move by the backs saw McBean make a break up the left wing. Quick ball was moved from his set ball and replacement full-back Ryan Anderson came into the line outside the centres, cut inside the defence and scored. McBean added the conversion to level the game at 24-24.

Moray pushed hard to get the winning points and in the 74th minute were handed a kickable opportunity when Lossie infringed on the 22. McBean calmly stepped up and slotted the kick for a 27-24 lead.

Moray held on for victory in what had been a bruising and hard fought local derby battle with both teams scoring four bonus point winning tries with the only difference being that Moray landed the late penalty.

Moray are away this Saturday to Ross Sutherland.