PICTURES: Moray Rugby Club presented with Tennent’s Caledonia North Region League Division 2 trophy after clocking up 15th consecutive victory in style against Mackie
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Moray, the newly-crowned Tennent’s Caledonia North Region League Division 2 winners, concluded their league programme with a resounding 61 points to 5 victory against Mackie at Morriston last Saturday.
From the outset, they showed intent to play fast, open rugby and in the sixth minute opened the scoring. Continuity play on the right flank was stopped at a ruck. Quick ball reached second-row Steven Clark who barged his way through a couple of tackles and over the line for an unconverted try and 5-0 lead.
In the 13th minute, they added a second. A break from inside his own half saw wing Lewis Scott stopped, 15 metres out. No 8 Neil Alexander was on hand to receive the ball, break the defensive line and score. Full-back Rory Millar added the conversion for 12-0.
In a four-minute period around the 20-minute mark, two further tries were added securing a try bonus point. In both instances, strong running through the middle created the opportunities.
The first saw hooker Marc Higgins make the break allowing centre Cameron Hughes to put fellow centre Connor McWilliam into a gap to breach the defensive line and score.
Hughes scored the second when after a good break by wing-forward Lewis Small, continued by wing Ewan Simpson, the ball was quickly moved wide and he forced his way over he line. Millar added both conversions for 26-0.
Moray continued to dominate and in the final 10 minutes of the half, added three more tries.
The first came from an attacking line, five metres out. Ball was taken off the top and moved to Marc Higgins and he drove through the defence to score.
Alexander scored the second when he received ball from a quick penalty tap, saw the gap and made the line.
A break through the middle by Small set up the third. A ruck was formed and quick ball reached Scott who had the strength and pace to make the line. Millar kept up his good kicking display by adding three conversions for a half-time score of 47-0.
Mackie had been on the end of a battering in the first half but they came out all guns blazing in the second half to show their mettle.
In the first 10 minutes, they dominated the ball and in the 52nd minute reduced the lead to 47-5 when they scored an unconverted try.
Moray came straight back and two minutes later, McWilliam gathered a misguided chip kick, turned and found that he had a straight run to the goal-line for his second. Millar added the extras for 54-5.
The visitors continued to see plenty of ball but the home defence was strong and sound.
In the 67th minute, Moray scored the final try of the afternoon. Play progressed to an attacking scrum, 15 metres out. A solid scrum saw Alexander pick up at the back, spot the gap and go for and make the line for his third try of the afternoon. Millar added the final points for a 61-5 victory.
The home side had completely blown away Mackie in the first half playing some excellent and open rugby. To their credit, however, the visitors never let their heads go down and put in a more positive display in the second half.
Moray are deserving league champions having won 15 games in a row, only losing out in their first fixture of the season and playing a great brand of rugby that has seen them gain 14 try bonus points from amassing 816 points in 16 league games.
