Moray 27 Highland Seconds 24: Last-minute win in hard-fought Division One clash
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MORAY narrowly defeated Highland Seconds by 27 points to 24 in a hard-fought Caledonia Division 1 fixture at Morriston on Saturday thanks to last-minute winning try.
Moray took the lead in the sixth minute. A penalty for offside was despatched to an attacking line, five metres out. Clean ball was taken and driven only to be stopped just short. Scrum-half Callum Watson picked up, broke blind and made the line for an unconverted try and 5-0 lead.
Six minutes later, the visitors levelled the scores at 5-5 when they scored a very similar try following a penalty.
In the 17th minute, the Elgin side regained the lead. A break and chip saw centre Cameron Hughes regather the ball deep in the opposition 22. He drove to five metres out but hands in the ruck gave the penalty.
Number eight Neil Alexander quickly took the penalty and drove through the defence to score an unconverted try for 10-5.
Moray extended the lead around the half hour mark. Stand-off Rory Millar collected ball on his 22 and ran at the opposition. He broke the first tackle and then drifted past three others before prodding the ball forward towards the line.
The weight of the kick was perfect and wing Lewis Hay sprinted past the chasing defence to get there first and score the try. Millar added the conversion for 17-5.
Four minutes later, the Raptors put together a good passage of handling play which created the space for their speedy left wing to round the defence and score a converted try for 17- 12.
In the 36th, the home side were handed a penalty, 30 metres out, when the ball was handled in a ruck. Millar landed the kick for 20-12.
In the final minute of the half, the Highland left wing scored his second try out wide after the defence was pulled in, leaving the half-time score 20-17.
The Inverness side started the second half strongly and after only a minute, they took the lead. A penalty, five metres out, was run and following a couple of drives, they broke the line to score a converted try for 20-24.
Moray tried to respond quickly but over the next 30 minutes, the game was played mostly in midfield. Both sides did create opportunities but defences came out on top.
With time running out, the Elgin side pushed hard to get a winning try. They were pressing in the 22 and were awarded a penalty at a ruck. It was now the last play of the game and touch was found, five metres out. Ball was cleanly taken and a drive took them close.
A short pass to the right reached second-row Alex Matthews who dived through the gap to score by the corner flag. Millar superbly added the conversion from the touch-line for a final score of 27-24.
Moray are away to Aberdeen Wanderers on Saturday.
