PICTURES: Moray Rugby Club strike late again to maintain promotion bid with victory in Dundee ahead of Murrayfield final
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A late show by Moray saw them maintain their unbeaten quest for promotion to National 4 when they defeated Dundee 2nd XV by 43 points to 22 in Dundee last Saturday.
In the eighth minute, the home side opened their account when after a breach into the 22 and a number of continuity phases, they scored a converted try for 7-0.
Six minutes later, following a period of pressure in the 22, Moray replied. A scrum 5 was cleanly taken and moved through hands to wing Lewis Scott who broke a couple of tackles to score. Full-back Rory Millar added the conversion to tie the score at 7-7.
From the restart, a drive up the right side followed by a chip took them to a ruck in the 22. Second-row Alex Matthews took quick ball and set up another ruck. This time the ball was moved quickly wide to wing Ewan Simpson who score out wide. Millar landed the difficult kick for 7-14.
In the 20th minute, a penalty just inside the Dundee 22, was kicked by Millar to stretch the lead to 7-17.
A couple of penalties, around the 30-minute mark, gave the midlands side a chance to apply pressure in the 22. A number of phases later they scored a converted try for 14-17.
The Elgin side returned to the offensive and in the 38th minute, added another try. A break by Simpson from inside his own half took him into the 22, to a ruck. Ball was moved quickly wide to Scott and he crashed through a couple of defenders to score his second try. Millar pushed the conversion attempt narrowly wide to leave the half-time score at 14-22.
Moray conceded a soft try a minute into the second-half when dropped ball in their 22 was prodded forward and regathered to score an unconverted try reducing the lead to 19-22.
In the 50th minute, it was 22-22 when a penalty for a high-tackle was landed.
Both sides tried to get the upper hand in the next 20 minutes or so but no quarter was given by either side.
With the game in the balance, it was Moray who dug deep and upped their game. In the 74th minute, a drive by the forwards took them to a ruck a couple of metres out. The ball was whipped away from the breakdown to wing-forward David Clarke who went for the line and when tackled, he offloaded to centre Connor McWilliam to breach the defence and score the bonus point try. Millar added the extras for 22-29.
Three minutes later, a scrum was taken on half-way and moved to Millar on the blind side. He made great ground only to be stopped, 10 metres out. Quick hands saw the ball make it to wing Lewis Hay out wide and he stepped inside and then under the covering defence to score. Millar landed the kick from the touchline for 22-36.
In the final plays of the game, Dundee tried to run from inside their 22 but knocked-on in the tackle. The ball was secured and driven and set at a ruck, 10 metres out. Scott arrived, picked up the ball and had the strength to break the defence and score his third of the afternoon. Millar added the conversion to put some gloss on the win at 22-43.
After a slow start, Moray had looked comfortable and in control but Dundee fought back to make a real game of it. With time running out, the Elgin side showed great resilience to boss the game in the last 10 minutes and come away with the 5 points. This was the first time that Dundee had been beaten at home in the play-offs and leaves Moray a win away from promotion. The final game is at home against Panmure on the May 4.
Thoughts now turn to this Saturday and the opportunity to win the National Shield at the Hive Stadium, Murrayfield.
Moray play Cumnock in the final, starting at 1.45pm.
