Tough opponents, tough lessons but Reds and 2s both hang in!
Both senior teams were away from home on Saturday, both visiting very tough opponents. The Reds travelled up to Forfar to play Strathmore in the Arnold Clark National League Division 4, whilst the 2s made the journey to Goldenacre in Edinburgh to take on a Heriots 2As team in the Arnold Clark East Region Reserve League division 1.
Our intrepid reporters were at both matches and, thanks to Neil Dori-Muir, we had a photographer at Strathmore to capture the action.
Powerful Strathmore score six at home
Strathmore 40 – 10 Linlithgow
Saturday 21st September 2024
Report by Craig Young; photos by Neil Dori-Muir
Linlithgow travelled to unbeaten Strathmore on Saturday.
The drama began way before kick off as when the away team bus was going into the car park they had to give way to an ambulance as a Dunfermline youth player had a neck injury. A helicopter then landed on the pitch, but in the end the player went with the ambulance. We have heard since that the player escaped serious injury after a night in the hospital.
On time, Linlithgow kicked off in brilliant sunshine. They collected their own kick on the home side 22 and things looked promising. However, Strathmore soon won the ball back made quick progress into the Linlithgow 22. After some dogged defence, Strathmore scored a try (unconverted). From the resulting kick off Linlithgow were awarded a penalty which Jack Frame duly kicked. From then on, Strathmore gained in confidence and with slick passing and good handling were able to breach the Linlithgow defence at will scoring another two converted tries. The home side had at least 80% of the possession, but the visitors had a flurry just before half time. Given two opportunities to kick for goal, they declined both, and then lost possession from the resulting line-out. Half time 19-3 (although 19-6 would have been better).
It didn’t take Strathmore long to add to their tally in the second half as they tested the Linlithgow defence time and time again. Two converted tries put the game out of sight and gave the home side their try bonus point. Linlithgow tried hard throughout the game but could not match the physicality of their opponents. Towards the end, the Strathmore substitute who had only just come onto the field was given a yellow card with a very physical high tackle which floored Oscar Davies. Some thought red would have been more appropriate despite the player protesting the yellow. Strathmore then scored a sixth try, duly converted. Linlithgow were tiring and there were a few walking wounded players who knew they had been in a battle. Despite this Linlithgow managed one final attack and Ross Martin scored under the posts, converted by Frame. Final score 40-10.
Credit to Linlithgow for keeping the score under 50 in a game they hardly had any decent possession. Linlithgow will have to deal with the physicality of this league better. Strathmore looked a quality side in every department and certainly, even at this early stage, look like promotion contenders.
Linlithgow
Jack Frame; Ross Tulloch, Ruaridh Stewart, Ewan Curran, Luke O’Hara; Conor Findlay, Archie Rusak; Andrew Graham, Kyle Ormond, Calum McKeown; Kieran Cochrane, Oscar Davies; Euan Mochrie, Jamie Tulloch and Ross Martin.
subs : Colin Devlin, Eioan Magee, Stuart Cunningham, Ross Plenderleith
Deserved away bonus point for 2s against strong Heriots’ team
Heriots 2As 45 – 24 Linlithgow 2s
Saturday 21 September 2024
Report by Des Martin
This was the second outing against Heriots inside three weeks. The last game at home had been a very tough baptism for some of our team as this Heriots side are full of quality players as a result of the disbanding of Super Six competition.
However the manager was happy with the team although he had only 5 listed forwards. !Luckily there are some versatile players in the squad and he asked Ally Walker, normally a centre, James Roulston, normally a scrum half, and Jack Magee, normally a centre, to play in the back row. We moved Alex Dunlop and Jonny Pegg into the second row. Jonny Pegg led the pack and was the only jumper so we decided 5 man line-outs all the time.
The scrum front row was Aiden Mochrie, Max Holt and Matty Summerville all technically sound so we managed in the rucks and scrums well.
We attacked strongly in the first 10 minutes and from a loose ruck on the line debutant James Roulston showed how it was done to score a short range try, converted by Gregor McLean. 7-0 to Linlithgow. Heriots didn’t take this lying down and despite great carrying and work by the backs Murray Johnstone and Callum Lindsay in particular they scored three tries to give them 21 points.
Just before half time, from good work in a tackle, Eddie Beamish came up with the ball and out sprinted all the Heriots’ cover to go below the posts for a try converted by Gregor McLean. 21-14 at half time and the team were playing well.
After half time Euan McCartney left the field to be replaced by Struan McLean at scrum half and Fraser Miller went on in the back row to spell the hardworking Roulston and Walker. Young Jack Magee, loving playing at no 8 and carrying extremely well, scored two more tries for Linlithgow.
Linlithgow had lots of great possession but couldn’t cross the line again. Heriots found it easier often from our mistakes and they scored a few more tries. The final score according to the referee was 45-24 to the Heriots side.
A very good game with a number the players putting strong performances against a very big athletic Heriots’ side. The Heriots’ management felt we had out muscled them in many aspects of the contact situation which the lads should be pleased about. Next week Preston Lodge at home.
We hope!!!!
Chunk – the legend!
Special shout out to Stuart ‘Chunk’ Cunningham who won his 150th Reds’ cap with a man-of-the-match performance off the bench at Strathmore!