WATCH: Four tries by Pita Moku edge Kinloss Eagles Rugby Club closer to Tennent's Caledonia North Division 3 play-offs glory after victory over nearest rivals Garioch
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Kinloss Eagles Rugby Club picked up a crucial win at previously undefeated Garioch in their quest for promotion from Tennent's Caledonia North Division 3.
The Moray club sit top of the six-club play-off section as the only unbeaten side after three matches, with the winners going on to clinch the title.
Eagles, who qualified along with Stornoway from the Highlands and Islands Conference, hit back from a 10-point deficit to defeat Saturday's hosts in convincing fashion.
Garioch scored first when a misplaced Kinloss pass let in the home side for an unconverted try.
It wasn't long before Kinloss replied after Fijian Vilive Koroibanuve scored their first try, with the conversion from Iskeli Railoa edging the Moray side 7-5 ahead.
Back came the Inverurie hosts to regain the lead with two tries, one converted to build up a 17-7 advantage.
Kinloss were really up against it when they were reduced to 14 men, but this didn’t seem to affect them as just before the half time whistle Sammy Thompson went over to get the Eagles back to 17-14 with the conversion.
The away side made some changes at the interval and it only took a minute for leading try scorer Pita Moku to race through for an unconverted try to regain the lead for the away side.
Yet again, Garioch replied with a penalty to edge 20-19 in front - but that was as good as it got for the Aberdeenshire team.
The Eagles stepped up a gear with Waisea Qase scoring under the posts to secure the try bonus, and the conversion making it 26-20 in Kinloss' favour.
Moku then broke away for a converted try and Koroibanuve converted a penalty to increase the Moray team's lead even further.
Garioch tried to come up with a response but a misjudged pass was intercepted by Moku who charged in for his third try of the afternoon.
Moku wasn't finished there, adding his fourth try of the match and his 18th of the season with the last play of the game to seal a 48-20 victory for Kinloss.
Koroibanuve won the man of the match award, and Kinloss are back in action on Saturday at home to bottom club Dyce.
Two away matches at Stornoway and Deeside complete the Eagles' play-off schedule.
