S1s stick in against very strong opponents

Linlithgow S1  5 – 62  Stewarts Melville S1

Saturday 28 September 2024

Report by Alan Hunter

It was a perfect morning for playing rugby and to make it even better the new reversible strips had arrived. Looking resplendent in the pre-match photos, the Reds changed to black to face up against what was going to be an exceptionally organised Edinburgh team. Thanks to the eagle-eyed Rory the wash instruction labels that were on the inside, that had now made their way to the outside were spotted and quickly removed before play commenced! It was to be a difficult encounter for the team and perhaps the steepest point on the learning curve so far as they transition to being at one with 13-a-side rugby with a full pitch to cover.

The Young Reds were straight on the back foot and all the players were having to tackle relentlessly as S.M. moved the ball through the hands from one side of the pitch to the other which created an inevitable overlap for a try after only a minute. Linlithgow responded with crash balls from their physical ball carriers Callum and Fin C but S.M.’s tackling and defensive line was proving just as strong as their attack. Moving the ball quickly through the hands of Max and Rory seen the ball spinning out to Nathan on the right wing who was brought down by a high tackle, resulting in a penalty. A safe kick to touch by Max and a safer throw to the front of the line set up an opportunity for Joe who was also high tackled. This time S.M. were marched back 10m for questioning this and Blair took a quick tap penalty feeding Logan who took 5 players to eventually end his run. His strong running left him isolated and S.M.’s ruck was supported, resulting in a turnover ball and this was to be a theme of the game, as they took the upper hand in the ground battle. We remained under intense pressure for the rest of the first half, much of that in our own 22, as they ran in 5 tries, 4 of them converted.

After listening to the coaches at the break the boys held their heads high and were desperate to get a score in during the second half. Brodie P, Brodie C and Finlay H were having to put in try saving tackles time after time, as S.M. continued turning the screw. We didn’t help ourselves by allowing the rugby ball to bounce before we tried to gather it at the restarts and the bounce of the ball on the day certainly went S.M’s way. Jack was being a terrier in the centre of the pitch with huge tackles and aggressive rucking, and in the blink of an eye from there we were in their half looking like the team the players recognised from previous games as Tom and Fin McD started making real ground perforating their fast-approaching defensive line. Unfortunately, we were being thwarted by knock ons and handling errors which cost us a heavy price but we were starting to play much more in their end of the pitch.

Linlithgow’s only try was a peach, starting from Rory on halfway who stepped three players with one of his trademark jinking runs before offloading to Max who quickly spun out to a sprinting Ruari who used that momentum to get through the defence line once again. Support came from Fin McD who went straight for the line from the 22. Jack was in support but was held up on the line before Tom grounded the ball for a well worked try showing what we were capable of.

At the post-match debrief the players looked shell shocked but they didn’t quit, supported each other and stayed as a team and that will keep them growing from these experiences.