Moray 46 Ross Sutherland 24: Big win keeps Moray top of the table
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MORAY defeated Ross Sutherland 46-24 at Morriston to maintain their position at the top of the Tennent’s Caledonia North Region League Division 2.
The home side took the early initiative with two tries in the first nine minutes. The first was scored by wing-forward Lewis Small when after a break into the 22, the ball was moved wide. Douglas Ireland converted.
The second, an unconverted try, was scored by centre Connor McWilliam after wing Lewis Scott offloaded after a strong run in the 22 leaving the score at 12-0.
In the 14th minute, Ross narrowed the lead to 12-7 when their wing-forward scored a converted try after beating a number of defenders to reach the line.
The visitors went on to have a good 10-minute spell of play but the only reward for their efforts was a penalty kick, taking the score to 12-10.
The Elgin side regained the initiative and in the 34th minute added to their tally. With play in the 22, centre Cameron Hughes picked a good line but was halted a metre short.
Ball was quickly recycled and an over-the-top pass by Douglas Ireland found his brother Cameron in space to score an unconverted try for 17-10.
Three minutes later, the home side won a penalty and kicked to a line-out, 10 metres out.
Clean ball was taken and powerfully driven towards and over the line with prop John Westmacott taking the plaudits for the forwards try. Douglas Ireland converted for a half- time score of 24-10.
A minute into the second half, Moray stretched the lead. Following a solid scrum just inside the 22, Scott came off his wing, took the pass and bulldozed his way through a number of defenders to score. This was converted by Ireland for 31-10.
In a two-minute spell, around the 50-minute mark, the Invergordon side got themselves back into the game when they scored two converted tries for 31-24.
The response from the home side was immediate. Play progressed to a defending scrum, five metres out. A big drive saw ball taken against the head with Connor Cameron picking up and making the line for an unconverted try and 36-24.
In the 51st minute, an attacking line-out, five metres out, was taken and a miscued pass floated in front of both stand-off and inside-centre, however McWilliam gathered it, spun out of the first tackle then drove through a couple of other defenders to score, his second of the afternoon, an unconverted try for 41-24.
Moray were in control of the game and threatened on a number of occasions but it was not until the final play of the game that they added to their tally.
A number of drives through the middle was set at a ruck and ball moved wide quickly through hands to Hughes who threw a dummy to create the space to ship the ball to Scott to score his second of the afternoon.
Ireland’s conversion attempt came back off the bar leaving the final score at 46-24.
A good all-round performance by the home team against a very good and capable Ross team. This Saturday Moray are away to Gordonian seconds.
On the same day, 26 players took part in a seconds game against a Huntly/Lossiemouth/Banff select with some of the Moray players making up the full complement of 15 a-side.
It was great to see such numbers and watch the seconds back on the field and getting game time.
The teams delivered an entertaining and competitive game which saw the seconds come back in the final quarter to sneak a win at 39-32.
