PICTURES: Moray Rugby Club get ready for National Shield semi-final by defeating Panmure in second Caledonia Division 1 play-off clash
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Moray maintained their unbeaten run in the Caledonia Division 1 Play-offs with a convincing 57 points to 12 win over Panmure in Broughty Ferry last Saturday.
Playing into the wind on a very heavy pitch, the Elgin side opened the scoring in the third minute.
A scrum, 18 metres from the line, was taken cleanly and the ball moved to stand-off Cameron Hughes. He delayed the pass, putting the looping wing Lewis Scott into the gap to score under the posts. Full-back Rory Millar added the conversion for 0-7.
Six minutes later, the lead was extended. Again, it emanated from a scrum in the 22 but on this occasion the ball was moved wide, through hands, and Millar had enough room to get in at the corner. His conversion attempt came up short in the strong wind leaving the score at 0-12.
In the 18th minute, a clean line-out was taken, 10 metres out. A maul was set up and the forwards drove the ball over the line with hooker Marc Higgins dotting the ball down. Millar added the extras for 0-19.
Around the 25-minute mark, Panmure got themselves on the board at 7-19 when they scored a converted try from a move down the blindside after a scrum.
Five minutes before half-time, the visitors scored their fourth and the bonus point try. From a scrum in the home half, No. 8 Neil Alexander picked up ball, broke up the blind side and made good ground before setting ruck.
The ball was quickly moved from the break down with centre Ben Taylor receiving the ball out wide and scoring an unconverted try in the corner for 7-24.
On the stroke of half-time, Moray added another. Following a number of drives for the line, the ball was moved wide and Millar scored his second, an unconverted try, for a 7-29 half-time lead.
Five minutes into the second half, another was added. A penalty took them to an attacking line, 5 metres out. Clean ball was taken and driven with Alexander touching down over the line. Millar added the extras for 7-36.
Three minutes later, Alexander scored his second when he was on hand to pick the ball up and dive over after second-row Alex Matthews was taken down just short following a good drive for the line. Millar added the conversion for 7-43.
In the 52nd minute, the Broughty Ferry side added a second, unconverted try, following a period of pressure in the 22, reducing the lead to 12-43.
Seven minutes later, the Elgin side were back in the 22. A line, 10 metres out, was taken and driven before being moved blind. The ball reached wing Iain Stuart and he looked to go outside the defence before stepping inside, breaking a tackle and scoring. Millar added the conversion for 12-50.
Moray’s final try of the afternoon came 5 minutes from time. A chip for the line was fielded by a defender who rushed his clearance. The kick reached centre Connor McWilliam and he immediately ran back at the defence.
In reaching the defensive line, he lined up to open the ball wide before throwing an outrageous dummy and making the line. Millar added the extras for a final score of 12-57.
It had been a comprehensive display by the Moray side in some very windy and soft under foot conditions and keeps them on track in their quest for promotion to National Division 4.
This Saturday, Moray have a break from play-offs but play Linlithgow, at Morriston, in the semi-final of the National Shield. The winner will progress to the final to be played at Murrayfield on Saturday April 27.
