Moray Rugby Club field young XV in Morriston defeat to Hamilton in Arnold Clark national division 4
Moray were beaten by fourth-placed Hamilton in their latest Arnold Clark National 4 fixture at Morriston on Saturday.
The Elgin side were immediately on the back-foot when Hamilton scored two converted tries in the first nine minutes.
Moray steadied the ship and had two good opportunities in the 22 but unenforced errors ended those. In the 38th minute they did get over the line but were adjudged to have knocked-on in the process. From defending in their 22, the visitors turned defence into attack and after a number of phases added a third converted try for a 0-21 half-time lead.
Poor defending in the 47th minute saw the South Lanarkshire team score another converted try.
Two minutes later, the home side progressed to an attacking line, five metres out. Ball was taken and driven but again an unenforced error eliminated the chance.
In a ten-minute spell around mid-half, the Elgin side leaked two further tries, one converted for a 40 point Hamilton lead.
Moray did get on the board in the 66th minute. A penalty took them to a line, 10 metres out. An over throw was collected by prop Mark Taylor and he barged his way to the line for the score. Full-back Rory Millar added the conversion for 7-40.
The home side tried hard to add some more points in the final 10 minutes but without success.
It had been a hard day for a young Moray side missing a number of injured experienced players who had come up against a good Hamilton team but had shown good fight right to the final whistle. The visiting No 10 had punished any unenforced error by returning the ball back over heads into the home half and the direct running of the forwards had caused problems all afternoon.
There is now a league break for the Quilter Nations Series and the next fixture is away to Ardrossan on November 22.