PICTURES: Moray Rugby Club start Tennents Caledonia League Division 1 campaign in style with eight-try display to defeat Caithness
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Moray had a great start to their Tennents Caledonia League Division 1 campaign last Saturday with an emphatic 60 points to 12 victory over Caithness at Morriston.
The home side kicked-off and immediately regained the ball. Following a good driving run by hooker Euan Lee, the ball was then spun wide to wing Lewis Scott who broke the line to score. Full-back Rory Millar added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
In the eighth minute, Caithness replied with a forwards try after their first visit to the 22. The conversion was landed, tying the score at 7-7.
Within five minutes, Moray had regained the lead. Following a period of pressure in their 22, the visitors tried to clear their lines but the ball stayed in-field and was fielded by Millar.
He ran it back and offloaded to wing Lewis Hay to take the ball to a ruck, 15 metres out. The ball was quickly moved to No 8 Marc Higgins who made ground before offloading to wing-forward David Clarke to run the score in under the posts. Millar added the extras for 14-7.
The big Caithness forwards were causing problems for the home 8 and in the 26th minute, a second unconverted try was added through their efforts close to the line for 14-12.
Five minutes later, the Elgin side stretched the lead. Millar created the opportunity by making a break through the middle before offloading to scrum-half Cameron Ireland to run in the try. Millar converted for 21-12.
In the 36th minute, a high tackle allowed Millar to slot a penalty for 24-12.
On the stroke of half-time, Moray added the bonus point fourth try.
A big drive by second-row Hugh MacRae was eventually halted. The ball was quickly moved wide to Scott who rounded the defence and scored under the posts. Millar added the extras for a half-time score of 31-12.
Eight minutes into the second half, a high tackle on the 22 allowed Millar to land a penalty for 34-12.
Four minutes later, the visitors were penalised for an early push at a scrum 20 metres out. A quick penalty was taken and after a couple of drives, the ball was popped to wing-forward Finnley Cameron who made the line. Millar added the conversion for 41-12.
Moray continued to have the bulk of the play but it was not until the 72nd minute they added another score. Ball from a solid scrum mid-field was moved wide to Hay, who made good ground before offloading in the tackle to Scott to run in his third try of the afternoon, an unconverted try for 46-12.
In the final minutes of the game, the home side added two further tries, converted by Millar.
The first was scored by stand-off Cameron Hughes. His chip through in attack towards the line was picked up by a defender over the line but his attempted clearance was charged down and Hughes made it to the ball first.
The final try emanated from a Caithness goal-line drop-out which was quickly run back by Hughes. He made good ground before putting Ireland into the gap to score his second of the afternoon.
Final score Moray 60 Caithness 12.
It had been the perfect start to the league campaign for the Moray side. Defence had been strong and organised and with ball in hand they had always looked a threat running in eight good tries.
This Saturday, Moray have a league local derby away to RAF Lossiemouth.
