Moray Rugby Club lose at Ardrossan in Arnold Clark National Division 4 but pick up bonus point for four-try tally
Moray lost out to Ardrossan by 39 points to 27 in their latest Arnold Clark National League Division 4 fixture in North Ayrshire last Saturday.
The Elgin side kicked off and immediately took the game to the home side but a turn over at a ruck halted the opportunity to take the lead.
It was Ardrossan who opened the scoring when their No 8 broke through the defence and a couple of passes later they were under the posts for a converted try and 7-0 lead.
A couple of minutes later, Moray narrowed the lead to 7-3 when full-back Rory Millar landed a penalty.
The game was very evenly matched but in the 26th minute, the home centre broke a tackle and then danced past another couple of defenders to score a converted try for 14-3.
In the 30th minute, the Elgin side responded. A good break by second-row Alex Matthews took play to a ruck deep into the home half. Ball was moved to wing-forward Finnley Cameron and he drove to another ruck. Centre Connor McWilliam arrived quickly, scooped up the ball and ran through the gap to score under the posts. Millar added the extras for 14-10.
Four minutes later, it was 17-10 when Moray conceded a penalty for offside.
Ardrossan stretched the lead in the final play of the half when after some driving play for the line, the ball was moved wide for an unconverted try and 22-10 half-time scoreline.
Moray started the second half brightly but in the 51st minute, the home centre broke a number of tackles to score a converted try for 29-10.
Four minutes later, a penalty took the visitors to a line, five metres out. Clean ball was taken and a drive took them over the line with hooker Neil Alexander dotting the ball down. Millar added the conversion for 29-17.
In the 64th minute, Moray closed the gap further. A scrum on the home 10 metre was won and a long pass from stand-off Cameron Hughes reached full-back Kieran Jenkins with space in front of him. He drew the defence and slipped the ball to wing Lewis Hay to score an unconverted try out wide for 29-22.
Three minutes later, Ardrossan stretched the lead when they were awarded a soft penalty try for 36-22 when the referee adjudged McWilliam to have tackled high in a last ditch effort to stop a try being scored. The centre was also yellow carded.
In the 75th minute, Moray added a fourth and bonus point try. A free kick in the home 22 was run and set. The ball was moved quickly wide down the blindside to Hughes who brushed off a couple of tacklers to score an unconverted try for 36-27.
Two minutes from time Ardrossan added the final points of the afternoon when a penalty was landed for 39-27.
It had been a good encounter and after a nigh on five-hour bus journey, the Moray side had performed well but had come up just short. Scoring four tries, however, meant they made the return trip having secured a bonus point for their efforts.
The next couple of weekends sees the conclusion that of the Six Nations and therefore the next game is at home to unbeaten league leaders Strathmore on Saturday March 22 at 3pm.