MORAY TAKE FIRST DAY FALL IN SENIOR NORTHERN COUNTIES CUP

By ROBIN WILSON The Moray Golf Club were the first big fallers in their opening defence of the  B D Fraser Senior Northern Counties Cup at Brora today. Their double foursomes tie against Fortrose and Rosemarkie finished all square  but when second couple Chris MacLeod and Michael Dean whose one hole win after 18 holes  extended the tie into extra holes MacLeod and Dean three putted the 19th hole for their team to go out. Host club Brora who have a formidable first couple in former full Northern Counties Cup winners, Jim Miller and Ian Grant spearheading their challenge to a third senior triumph provided the four holes to see their first team into today's third round after a win over Elgin but the Brora second team were ousted by Strathpeffer. Royal Dornoch's first team received a bye from  McDonald/Ellon but their second team after a first round win over the Fortrose and Rosemarkie's  second team were then beaten by Inverness who are  Brora's third round opponents tomorrow morning. With the late withdrawal of MacDonald/Ellon the two remaining  North East clubs at Brora, Cruden Bay and Deeside, were in action against each other and Deeside triumphed by six holes. Results  Round 1 Elgin bt Forres 2 holes. Fortrose and Rosemarkie (2) bt Royal Dornoch (2)   6 holes.  Duff House Royal bt Nairn Dunbar (1)  1 hole.  Round 2  Fortrose and Rosemarkie (1)  bt Moray at 19th.  Strathpeffer bt Brora( 2) 2 holes. Brora (1) bt Elgin 4 holes. Inverness bt Fortrose and Rosemarkie (2) 1 hole. Duff House Royal bt The Nairn 3 holes. Royal Dornoch (1) wo McDonald Ellon scr Nairn Dunbar (2 ) bt Tain 8 holes. Deeside bt Cruden Bay 6 holes.