Pictures: Ten-try romp for Moray Rugby Club and almost perfect kicking by full-back Rory Millar to see off Morriston visitors Aberdeen Grammar 2nds
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Following the disappointment of losing first league match of the season, Moray produced a strong performance and resoundingly defeated Aberdeen Grammar 2nds on Saturday.
The Elgin side scored ten tries to emerge with a 68-0 victory over their Granite City visitors in their latest Tennent’s Caledonia North Region League Division 2 fixture.
Full-back Rory Millar produced an almost perfect kicking performance, converting nine of the tries and being denied ten out of ten by the frame of the upright.
The Aberdeen side kicked off but it was Moray who took the impetus and in the fourth minute took the lead.
Ball was moved quickly wide from a scrum and wing Lewis Scott stepped inside his opposite number and made it to the line. Millar added the extras for 7-0.
Grammar tried to reply but strong defence was turned into attack in the 13th minute and play progressed to an attacking scrum 5. Scott stood on the open side but when ball was secured, he broke blind, received the ball and barged through to score, again converted.
The visitors rallied and produced some good continuity play but the Elgin side’s defence was strong and stood firm.
In the 30th minute, the home side stretched their lead. The ball was moved quickly from a scrum on their own 22 and reached wing Lewis Hay who was only stopped when he made the opposition 22. Ball was recycled and moved wide left to centre Cameron Hughes and he made the line out wide. A superb kick by Millar from the touchline, made it 21-0.
The bonus point try was scored in the 35th minute when after a good break by wing-forward Lewis Small, he offloaded inside to the supporting Millar who scored under the posts and converted for 28-0.
Moray made it a 35-0 half-time score when after a strong No 8 Calum Smith drive, the ball was moved to Millar who in contact returned it inside to supporting hooker and captain Marc Higgins to make the line for a converted score.
Grammar started the second half on the front foot, however, centre Connor McWilliam intercepted on his 22. He made ground before offloading to wing Cameron Preece who ran deep into the opposition half before shipping the ball to supporting stand-off Douglas Ireland to score. Millar added the extras for 42-0.
In the 53rd minute, a penalty took the home side to a line, five metres out. Clean ball was taken and driven. Smith peeled off the back of the maul and burst over the line to score with Millar adding the conversion for 49-0.
A similar ‘penalty to a line-out 5’ created the territory for the eighth try. This time the ball was moved wide left then returned to the right and a long pass over the heads by Ireland created the space for Millar to score. He added the extras for 56-0.
In the 68th minute, Scott added his third try of the day. A strong drive by Higgins in the 22 was set and recycled. The ball was moved quickly left for the wing to breach the defence and score. Millar added the two conversion points for 63-0.
A front peel, eight minutes from time saw Smith gather the ball and barge his way over for his second try of the afternoon. The conversion kick by Millar, which would have made it a perfect 10 out 10, unfortunately came off the upright, then the crossbar to leave the final score at 68-0.
It had been a very good all-round display by the Moray side built on a good defensive shift. This combined with a desire by both forwards and backs to run hard and keep the ball alive produced ten tries and meant the supporters were treated to an exciting game of rugby.
This Saturday, Moray are away to North Police in the league.
