Moray Rugby Club’s second string defeat Stornoway with debut player scoring four tries
Moray Rugby Club’s seconds secured an excellent 40-24 home win on Saturday against Stornoway, in the latest round of the Arnold Clark Caledonia North League Division 2.
The star turn was debutant Livai Maravou, scoring four tries, but others less experienced and making their first appearances for the club also showed up well too.
The first quarter was an even affair, with the visitors coming closest to scoring, only for the ball to be held up over the line.
Moray finally broke the deadlock on twenty minutes. Ball was secured at a line-out, 35 metres out. Stand-off Blair Garrick broke through the defence and made good ground before popping to Maravou, who covered the last 15 metres. Euan Willetts converted from out wide for a 7-0 lead.
On 27 minutes a quick tap penalty, mid-way inside the visitors half, found its way to Maravou who tumbled past the defender for his second. Willetts converted from out wide left for 14-0.
The home sides confidence was high and just three minutes later they added to their tally. Back row, Tom Letch, gathered the ball at the back of a lineout near the 22, and rumbled over at the posts. Willetts easy conversion gave a commanding 21-0 lead.
Stornoway had other ideas, however, and scored two tries of their own on 34 and 37 minutes. Both came from close range quick tap penalties that caught the home defence napping. They would convert only one, giving a half-time score of 21-12.
On 46 minutes Moray secured lineout ball on the Stornoway 10 metre line, left field. Quick hands found Maravou, on the right wing and he scorched his way round and past the scrambling defence from 40 metres out, to complete his hat-trick in spectacular fashion. Willetts again converted for a 28-12 scoreline.
Four minutes later the visitors replied. After recovering ball at a home line-out on half-way and pressuring the try line, the hosts infringed. Another quick tap penalty resulted in the centre going over. Once again the conversion was missed, 28-17.
After another six minutes the gap tightened further. An excellent 50/22 kick and clean line-out lead to a converted try and an uncomfortable 28-24 scoreline for the home team.
On 61 minutes, neat work up the left touchline by the promising Angus Lunn, almost lead to a score but an excellent last-gasp try-saving tackle ended the threat.
Moray earned some breathing space five minutes later. From a scrappy line-out in their own half and a canny break up the blind side, Marc Higgins found Tom Letch on half-way. The youngster brushed aside the tackle and outsprinted the rest of the defence to touch down for his second of the day. Willetts kicked the extra points.
Stornoway had to chase the game but with five minutes left on the clock, Moray sealed the points. From a scrum on the visitors 10 metre line, good interplay took the ball to centre field, 22 metres out. It was then sent back right, with Mick Letch releasing Maravou to score. Unfortunately, Willetts couldn’t keep his 100 per cent conversion rate, so the final tally was 40-24.
In a thoroughly entertaining game, Stornoway played their part well, never giving up and always playing positive running rugby.
For Moray, a particular shout out has to go to Mick Letch, playing alongside son Tom, who came on as an injury replacement mid-way through the first half and belied his years, by completing the remainder of the game. Young prop Finlay Paton will also have gained invaluable experience playing alongside Lewis Higgins and retiring Marc Higgins.
