PICTURES: Moray come from behind to defeat Ross Sutherland and go top of Tennent’s Caledonia North Region League Division 2
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Moray triumphed over a spirited Ross Sutherland side with a 52 points to 19 win in their latest Tennent’s Caledonia North Region League Division 2 match at Invergordon.
All pictures courtesy of John MacGregor.
With Highland 2nds losing on the road, Moray are now top of the league, with a game in hand.
Moray got off to a flyer and in the second minute, opened the scoring. Good continuity play took them into the Ross half to a ruck. Quick ball was moved through hands to wing Lewis Hay and he had the room to run outside his opposite number to score. Stand-off Rory Millar landed the conversion for 0-7.
The visitors continued to press and in the 6th minute were awarded a penalty in kicking range. Millar landed the kick for 0-10.
A number of penalties allowed Ross to camp themselves in the attacking 22. Following several driving phases, they made the line for a converted try reducing the lead to 7-10.
More soft penalties and some loose play allowed the home side to keep the pressure on. In the 20th minute, they took the lead at 12-10 following an unconverted try.
Three minutes later, Moray responded with a try emanating from their 22. Hay collected a kick through and run the ball back to a ruck. The ball was moved blind and wing-forward Lewis Small broke a number of tackles to breach into the opposition half. In contact he offloaded to Millar who stepped inside the oncoming defence to score, a try that he converted for 12-17.
In the 36th minute they added to their lead. A kick from Millar, from inside his own half, made it to touch in the 22. The 50/22 meant that the Elgin side now had the attacking throw-in. The ball was taken cleanly and driven to a ruck before being opened to the backs. Full-back Struan Henderson came into the line, dummied the pass to the wing and stepped inside to score. Millar added the extras for a half-time score of 12-24.
Ross opened the second half brightly and scored a converted try to reduce the lead to 19-24.
Three minutes later, Moray were back in the 22 after some good driving and popping play. The ball was opened to No 8 Neil Alexander who broke through a couple of tackles to score. Millar added the extras for 19-31.
The Moray defence line was now functioning well and the home side were finding it difficult to make any inroads. In the 59th minute, centre Cameron Hughes received recycled ball from a ruck, 5 metres out, stepped inside and shrugged off two defenders to score. Fellow centre Connor McWilliam stepped up and landed the conversion kick for 19-38.
From the restart, Ross regathered the ball but a strong tackle dislodged the ball and McWilliam picked up the loose ball before sprinting 3/4 the length of the field to score. He converted his try for a 19-45 lead.
In the last play of the game, the Elgin side added a final try. A break from inside their half and two quick off-loads saw the ball reach wing-forward Cameron Morrison Smith on the wing and with space in front of him. The defence tried to get to him but he outpaced them and scored under the posts. Millar added the conversion for a final score of Ross 19 Moray 52.
This Saturday, Moray play Shetland at Morriston, kick-off 2pm. In addition, Moray 2nds also have a fixture at Morriston against Skye, kick-off 12 noon.
