PICTURES: Moray Rugby Club defeat Dundee 2nd XV in Caledonia Region League Division 1 play-off
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On a day which began with sunshine and ended in persistent rain, Moray comprehensively defeated Dundee 2nds by 44 points to 7 in the first of their Caledonia League Division Play-off fixtures.
The midlands side started the brighter and in the first 10 minutes looked dangerous but sound defence kept them at bay.
Having weathered the pressure, the home side opened the scoring in the 14th minute. A loose ball was picked up around 10 metre line and moved wide to wing Lewis Scott. His opposite number only managed to half tackle him but he got quickly to his feet and made the line out wide for an unconverted score and 5-0 lead.
Play went from end to end but in the 26th minute, Moray stretched their lead.
An attack up the right side took them to a ruck on the 22. The ball was quickly moved wide to wing Iain Stuart and in contact he turned the ball back in to supporting centre Ben Taylor with a clear route to score. Full-back Rory Millar added the conversion for 12-0.
Three minutes later, Dundee replied. A number of penalties were conceded by the home side in their 22 and eventually pressure told and a converted try was scored for 12-7.
Following a distant thunderstorm, the heavens opened and the game was played in difficult conditions. Moray dealt with the conditions better and three minutes before half-time added a third try.
Ball was moved from an attacking scrum on the 22 and centre Connor McWilliam came at a great angle to break the defence and make the line. Millar converted for a half-time score of 19-7.
In the 44th minute, the visitors overthrew the ball at a defending line on their five-metre and hooker Marc Higgins plucked the ball out of the air and drove for and made the line for the bonus point try for 24-7.
A penalty by Millar at the mid point of the half moved the score out to 27-7.
The Moray side were in control of the game and in the final 15 minutes of the game, added three more tries. The first saw No 8 Neil Alexander pick up ball at the back of an advancing scrum to score an unconverted try for 32-7.
The next emanated from taking a Dundee line against the throw and releasing Scott to make big inroads into the defence before offloading to Millar to score.
And finally, wing Ewan Simpson scored when a long pass from centre Cameron Hughes gave him the space to make the line. Millar added the extras for a final score of 44-7.
It had been a good all round display by the Moray side which saw two-thirds of the game played in incredibly wet and difficult conditions.
They handled these conditions far better than their opponents, controlling the game and scoring seven tries.
This Saturday, they make the trip to Broughty Ferry to play Panmure in their second play-off game.
