Moray Rugby Club defeated by Linlithgow but land bonus point in nine-try match in Arnold Clark National League Division 4
A good Linlithgow team defeated Moray Rugby Club by 42 points to 22 in the latest Arnold Clark National League Division 4 fixture in Linlithgow last Saturday.
The West Lothian side started the strongest and in five minutes opened the scoring when, after a period of pressure in the 22, they scored an unconverted try out wide.
Moray tried to respond immediately but were thwarted when three tacklers managed to hold centre Cameron Hughes up over the line.
The home side stretched the lead in the 15th minute with a second try out wide but this time the conversion-kick was landed for 12-0. Four minutes later, they made it 15-0 when a penalty was landed after hands in the ruck.
The visitors had to make a change when wing-forward Finnley Cameron received a facial blood injury.
Moray came more and more into the game and in a three-minute spell, around the half hour mark, reduced the lead to 15-12. Firstly, some good continuity play up the left saw wing Lewis Hay release full-back Kieran Jenkins and he beat the last man and scored an unconverted try. Secondly, a great break by centre Ben Taylor from his own 22 saw him release Hay who stepped past the last two defenders to score under the posts. Stand-off Douglas Ireland converted.
A second penalty kick, three minutes from half-time saw Linlithgow move to 18-12 and a further penalty discretion in the last play allowed the home side to kick to touch. The five-metre line-out was taken and after a couple of drives, the ball was spun wide for a converted try and half-time score of 25-12.
An injury just before half-time saw Jenkins leave the field and this forced a re-organisation of the back line.
The visitors started the second half strongly and in the 48th minute, reduced the lead. A penalty took them to a line on the 22. Clean ball was taken, driven and prop Dylan Martin made great ground before being brought down, five metres from the line. The ball was recycled quickly and No 8 Neil Alexander burst through the last defenders to score an unconverted try for 25-17.
Moray continued to press but in the 57th minute, the home side capitalised on what looked like a clear knock-on to score a converted try to stretch the lead to 32-17.
The visitors pressed again without success and in the 66th minute conceded a further try. A high-tackle in the 22 allowed the home team to clear into the opposition half. Clean ball was taken and following a couple of big drives, the ball was moved wide for a converted try and 39-17.
Around the 75-minute mark, the Elgin side spent a period of time in the opposition 22 where a couple of penalties were conceded. A tap and drive for the line was stopped but the ball was recycled quickly and prop Mark Taylor forced his way over the line for a fourth, bonus point winning unconverted try and 39-22.
In the last play of the game, the home side were given a penalty, 30 metres out, which they kicked for a final score of 42-22.
Both teams greatly contributed to a fast, open game of rugby with Linlithgow edging the try count by 5 to 4. The home kicker had a good afternoon landing four conversions and three penalties.
This Saturday, Moray are on league duty when North Berwick visit Morriston. Kick-off is 3pm. There is also 2 other games at Morriston this Saturday. Moray Women play Orkney Women in a league fixture at 11am and Moray U18 play Selkirk Youth in the National Youth Bowl.
