Moray Rugby Club’s under-18s defeat Selkirk Youth to progress to the quarter-final of National Youth Bowl
An impressive display by Moray U18 saw them defeat Selkirk Youth by 41 points to 24 last Saturday, at Morriston, to progress to the quarter-final of the U18 National Youth Bowl.
The home side started strongly and in the 8th minute, following a good break by centre Angus Lunn, they were awarded a penalty, 10 metres out. A quick tap was taken and driven before the ball was moved wider. Wing-forward Beinn Hay received the pass and brushed off a number of defenders to score under the posts. Stand-off Logan McKenzie slotted the conversion for 7-0.
Moray continued to press and in the 14th minute, added a second. A similar penalty was given and this time, after a number of drives for the line, the ball was moved wide to wing Tom Porter who had enough room to score an unconverted try in the corner for 12-0
Four minutes later, the visitors got themselves on the board. Having been awarded a penalty 18 metres out, they tapped and drove for the line. A number of drives followed before they broke the defence and scored an unconverted try for 12-5.
A few minutes later, Selkirk reduced the lead to 12-10 when their left wing chipped the ball over the defence towards the goal-line and was quick enough to get to the ball first to score an unconverted try.
The Elgin side did not panic and returned to the offensive. In the 27th minute, they scored a similar try to their second. A penalty, 20 metres out, was tapped and run and a ruck set. Ball was moved wide through hands and Porter again managed to squeeze in at the corner. This time McKenzie landed the difficult touchline kick for 19-10.
Seven minutes later they stretched the lead. Following a penalty in the 22, centre Finlay Reid was stopped just short of the line. Ball was quickly recycled and moved to the blind side where Porter was able to score his third of the afternoon. The conversion was narrowly missed for 24-10, the half-time score.
Moray pressed early in the second half and in the 46th minute following some good driving and popping play by the forwards, prop Layton Chalmers burst through tackles to score. McKenzie converted for 31-10.
Selkirk reduced the lead to 31-17 in the 56th minute following good driving and popping play in the 22.
A couple of minutes later, the home side were awarded a penalty, for offside, on the 22. This time McKenzie went for goal and landed the kick for 34-17.
From the restart, Moray moved to an attacking line on the 22. Clean ball was taken and moved centre-field to a ruck. It was then quickly returned back in the direction from where it came to hooker Jake Fielding. He stepped inside a then drove through the last defender to score. McKenzie converted for 41-17.
The visitors scored the final try of the contest with some strong running which was converted for a final score of 41-24.
It had been a really good and impressive all round display by the Moray team to progress to the quarter-final of the National Youth Bowl. Defensively they were very sound and both forwards and backs had contributed well in attack.
