Moray Rugby Club player coach Cameron Hughes issues rallying call ahead of Saturday’s national Shield semi-final against East League powerhouses Linlithgow at Morriston playing fields in Elgin
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A big Morriston crowd is set to cheer on Moray Rugby Club in one of the biggest matches in their history tomorrow.
The Elgin club take on East Region League Division 1 winners Linlithgow in the semi-finals of the National Shield, with the winners progressing to a final held at Scotland’s national stadium of Murrayfield.
Home advantage will be crucial to Moray, with the visitors winning every one of their 13 league matches this season as well as a powerful run in the National Shield.
Moray player coach Cameron Hughes said it was a huge opportunity for the club to make some history in front of a big Morriston crowd.
“We've trained really well this week,” he said. “The numbers have been class and the attitude is where we want it be, but the message has just been to go out there and enjoy the occasion.
“Playing a home semi-final in front of our family, friends, and supporters is going to be really special, it doesn't happen often, and we've got to grab it with both hands.
“Linlithgow are coming north unbeaten with some big results under their belt, a well-coached team that can score tries from anywhere. We know what we need to do, now it's just a case of going out there and playing the rugby we know we can."
While Linlithgow have been in sensational form this season, so too have Moray.
Last season’s Caledonia North Division 2 champions have embraced their promotion to the North Conference, finishing top to enter the play-offs with another promotion to National Division 4 on offer for the winners.
Moray have started the play-offs in style, defeating Dundee 2nds in dreadful conditions in their last home match before travelling to Broughty Ferry and beating Panmure last Saturday.
The Elgin outfit have also fought out some thrilling contests in the National Shield to reach the last four.
Seven tries earned a 45-19 home win over north rivals Aberdeenshire in February, earning Moray a trip to Grangemouth Stages in the next round.
Looking down-and-out when they trailed 20-5, they fought back and Lewis Hay’s dramatic try with just three minutes left secured a 24-23 victory.
Moray’s quarter-final at home to a strong Ardrossan side was even more dramatic.
Losing 15-0 at half time, and still five points in arrears when the match passed the 80 minute mark, captain Lewis Scott battered his way through for a last-gasp try to level, and full back Rory Millar held his nerve to slot a difficult kick under pressure for the two extra points which pushed his team into the semis.
Saturday’s semi-final gets under way at 3pm.
