Aberdeen Wanderers 12 Moray 87: Huge win puts Elgin side top of table
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MORAY comprehensively defeated Aberdeen Wanderers 87-12 last weekend and, with results elsewhere, moved top of Caledonia Division 1 North Conference league.
In the seventh minute, the Elgin side took the lead. A driving and popping phase of play took them deep into the 22 to a ruck. At the breakdown, centre Cameron Hughes picked, went blind and found the gap to score a try. Full-back Rory Millar converted for 7-0.
Five minutes later, a powerful scrum drive in the home 22 produced a penalty. A quick tap and pass reached hooker Neil Alexander who barged his way through for the try. Millar added the extras for 14-0.
Moray were dominating but did not add another try until the 21st minute. A tap penalty was moved through hands to Hughes and he dummied and went through the gap to score. Millar converted again for 21-0.
A number of penalties from the restart gave the Aberdeen side possession and after a number of drives, they reduced the lead to 21-7 with a converted try.
The Elgin side responded immediately as wing-forward Kris Morrison broke from a ruck to score the bonus point try, converted by Millar for 28-7.
In the 37th minute, a huge drive turned over scrum-ball with number eight David Clarke’s picking up and bursting through the defence to score. Millar added the extras for 35-7, the half-time score.
Within five minutes of the resumption, a drive took them to five metres out and a ruck. The ball was moved from the base to prop Mark Taylor who barged his way over. Millar converted the try for 42-7.
In a six-minute spell around the 50-minute mark, Moray added three tries. The first was created by a great break by wing-forward Finnley Cameron. He was stopped on the 22 before it was spun wide to centre Connor McWilliam who broke the line and scored a Millar-converted try.
The second saw wing-forward Alex Matthews score a converted try when he broke the defence after some good linking play in the 22.
The third was scored and converted by scrum-half Iain Stuart when he received a pass following a good break by Alexander, taking the score to 63-7.
In the 62nd minute Wanderers added a second unconverted try through their centre for 63-12.
In the final 12 minutes, Moray added four more tries. The first emanated from a quick tap penalty on the half-way which released wing Cameron Preece down the right wing to score an unconverted try.
The second saw Millar break from his own half, chip and collect before offloading to wing Lewis Hay who stepped inside the last two defenders to score a converted try.
The third saw Hay reciprocate when, after a mazy run, he offloaded in the tackle to supporting Millar to score an unconverted try.
The final try of the afternoon saw the ball moved quickly through hands from an attacking scrum take to winger Ewan Simpson who made the line. Millar converted for a final score of 87-12.
Moray’s next league game is away to Mackie on September 30. This Saturday Moray Women play Fraserburgh Women at Morriston, kick-off 2pm and Moray Seconds are away to Skye.
