Moray Rugby Club defeat Greenock in 16-try Arnold Clark National League Division 4 season conclusion with colt player Angus Lunn scoring first team debut hat-trick
A sixteen-try rugby thriller included a hat-trick by a youngster making his first team debut.
Moray finished their Arnold Clark National League Division 4 season with an action-packed 61-52 home win against Greenock.
The win means that the Elgin side finished 5th in the league, an excellent outcome in their first season in National 4.
Greenock took a very early 0-7 lead but in the 6th minute, the home side replied. Clean ball was taken from a attacking line, 6 metres out, and hooker John Westmacott drove for the line. He was stopped just short but No 8 Lewis Small was on hand to pick up and drive over for a try, converted by full-back Rory Millar for 7-7.
The home side pressed but could not convert and in the 26th minute, the Inverclyde side retook the lead at 7-14. Moray responded in the 35th minute when colt winger Angus Lunn, making his debut for the 1sts, received the ball out wide and beat 2 defenders to make the line. Millar converted to level the score.
In the final few minutes of the half, Moray leaked two further converted tries for a half-time score of 14-28.
Within two minutes of the restart, the Elgin side narrowed the lead. Good continuity play took them deep into the 22, driving for the line. The ball was held up just short but scrum-half Cameron Ireland was on hand to pick up and dot down. Millar added the extras for 21-28.
In the 49th minute, it was 28-28 when prop Mark Taylor crashed over and Millar converted.
Five minutes later, Moray took the lead. A superb 50/22 by Millar set up an attacking line, 5 metres out. Lunn quickly got to the ball, threw in to Millar who in turn released centre Ben Taylor to score a converted try for 35-28.
A visitors penalty reduced the lead to 35-31 in the 57th minute but the home side increased the lead from the restart. Lunn chased the kick-off and brilliantly collected it in the air before beating the last 2 defenders to score out wide. Millar’s conversion attempt came off the post leaving the score at 40-31.
Four minutes later, it was 47-31 when Lunn gathered a grubber close to the visiting 22 then side-stepped the stand-off and made the line for his third of the afternoon. Millar added the extras.
Greenock came storming back and scored two converted tries in the 65th and 70th minute to get themselves back in touch at 47-45.
Moray responded immediately when from a scrum, 8 metres out, the ball was spun wide, then returned for Millar to score by the post, a try he converted for 54-45.
Two minutes later, the home side scored their 9th and final try of the afternoon. Good continuity play took them deep into the opposition half, to a ruck. The ball was then moved through hands left before being spun back to the right to reach Millar out wide to score his second of the afternoon. The conversion made the score 61-45.
A minute from time, the Inverclyde side had the last word when they scored a converted try for a final score of 61-52.
It had been a very open and attacking game of rugby which had been very much enjoyed by the sizeable crowd. A number of injuries required Moray to field four youngsters in Angus Lunn, Finlay Paton, Fraser MacMillan and Finn Paton who all equipped themselves well in the encounter. This concludes the season and the squad can be very proud of all their efforts.
