Moray Rugby Club fall just short of amazing Arnold Clark national division 4 comeback at Stewartry but earn two vital bonus points
So close to completing a sensational comeback for their first win of the season.
Moray made the long trip to Stewartry, Castle Douglas on Saturday and were narrowly beaten by 31 points to 28 in an Arnold Clark National 4 fixture.
They did, however, secure two bonus points; one for four tries scored and the other for being within seven points.
The home side kicked off with the wind in their favour and after a period of testing each other out, the Dumfries & Galloway outfit opened a 7-0 lead when a blind break resulted in a converted try.
Stewartry pressed for a second score but good defence kept them at bay. The visitors also had opportunities but did not manage to put points on the board.
In the 34th minute, the home side did add a second. A scrum was taken against the head, 20 metres out, the ball picked, driven and an unconverted try scored out wide for 12-0.
Stewartry continued to press but Moray held out for a 12-0 half-time scoreline.
The Elgin side, with the wind helping, started the second half brightly and in the 44th minute, reduced the lead. An attacking line, 10 metres out, was taken and driven to a ruck. The ball was released to stand-off Cameron Hughes who deftly chipped the ball towards the try line. Centre Connor McWilliam gathered the ball in the air and dotted down for a try, converted by full-back Rory Millar for 12-7.
They were back in it and continued to press but in the 52nd minute, when camped in the 22, they were caught down the blindside and a couple of passes ensured a converted try was scored for 19-7.
Moray returned to the offensive but the home defence was secure.
In the 64th minute, the visitors found themselves defending at a scrum 5. The Stewartry scrum had been strong and they took it against the head, picked up and scored an unconverted try for 24-7.
Five minutes later, they progressed to a scrum, 10 metres out. The ball was secured, driven and then moved to the wing who scored out wide. A good kick saw the conversion landed for 31-7.
Moray had been well in this contest but quickly had found themselves 24 points down. The game was not finished though.
In the 70th minute, they were held up over the line. The restart was taken and driven back to a ruck before being spun wide to McWilliam in space and he dummied the last defender and scored. Millar added the extras for 31-14.
Four minutes later, the gap narrowed further. The Elgin side, from a penalty, kicked to a line, five metres out. Clean ball was taken a driven over the line with prop John Westmacott getting the touchdown. Millar kicked the conversion from out wide reducing the lead to 31-21.
From the restart, they drove the ball back through a number of phases before setting ruck. The ball was opened wide to the wing and then back inside to centre Warrick Van Helsdingen who took a great line to cut through the defence and score. With Millar adding the conversion, they were now within three points with just a couple of minutes to play and a chance to win.
The ball was kicked long from the restart but again the visitors ran it back. After a number of phases, Stewartry were caught offside and Millar put the ball to touch on the home 10. The referee deemed the line-out throw squint and the game finished with Stewartry relieved to have won by three points.
It had almost been a sensational comeback but the team should take great heart from their overall performance in the game, in particular the superb last 10 minutes, and take that forward into this Saturday’s fixture against fourth place Hamilton Bulls at Morriston, kick-off 3pm.