Another great trip to France

Friday 14th to Monday 17th March 2025

Plaisir Rugby Club 29 – 35 Linlithgow Reds

Report by Des Martin

On Friday the 14th of March the Rugby Club tour group departed on their biennial trip to Paris to watch Scotland the brave take on their French counterparts in the final game of the Guinness 6 Nations Tournament and to play a friendly fixture against our rugby twin rugby club of Plaisir. As usual spirits were high and everyone was optimistic of what was to come. 

Calum McKeown and John Strachan had done a tremendous job in selling the trip and had 36 people signed up, all capable of wearing a red shirt if required! An alternative group of advisors were also travelling and intended to be available to represent or assist for the Linlithgow game – the president Jean McKeown for official handshaking, Des Martin and Baz McKeown as match day managers, Ally MacLennan as referees’ assistant, James Mochrie as a special advisor for his Luddies, Gaz Sheppard for wine sampling and pitch line checking on the day and ‘G’ Murray for making sure Facebook was updated.  (Very accurately)

Everyone had a great time on the Friday and Saturday although the result did not go our way for Scotland. The players were not too disheartened and partied on as if the wine and beer would disappear before they could get enough.

The support party departed sharp on the Sunday after a leisurely breakfast and arrived at Plaisir railway station on time to be met by old friends Nicolas Clos and others who had minibuses waiting to take them to Plaisir Rugby Club.

The players, however, were not so prompt and by 12-30pm they had only just started to appear in dribs and drabs with the KO set for 1-30pm! Looking rough was an understatement! They were all herded by the managers in to the changing room and given the “ambassadors for Linlithgow” speech. (Your here to play rugby etc!!!!!!!!) Then the French, not unknown for their liking of process, told us we were only allowed 22 players in total. No special dispensation could be made even by on tour. The difficult decision was then who to play and who to leave out. After some debate a decision was made and the team was officially ratified. It even had to be signed by Ally MacLennan!

The game kicked off with a very strong team, only missing Ross Martin and Ruaridh Stewart from a Reds first choice squad. After a nice bit of backs interplay, Callum Lindsay sprinted in for a score converted by Conor Findlay.  (0-7)

The forwards were working hard and nice clean ball came out again on the other wing where Luke O’Hara battered past a few Plaisir players to score a fine try, again converted by Conor Findlay. (0-14) 

The pitch at Plaisir is hard and fast and, from quick ball won by Jonny Pegg and Neil Lockhart, the ball came out the backs and Ewan Curran cut a lovely angle back inside to score by the posts, converted by Connor Findlay. (0-21)

Now after 20 minutes play, the late nights with copious drink began to tell, and some players were looking longingly at the touch line.  In this period Plaisir scored two tries. 

Half-time: Plaisir 12 – 21 Linlithgow

After half time the managers changed the front row bringing on Adam Scott and Aiden Mochrie, bringing on Oscar Davies and Jeff Martin in the back row and changing the centres for the ever youthful Mark Green and John Strachan.  Aiden Wan and Jack Frame came on at wing and full back respectively.  

The game started brightly again after the French refreshed from their tea break in the changing rooms came out ready to win. The Reds struck first and, after good forward carries by Pooch Tulloch, Adam Scott and Oscar Davies, the scrum half Archie Rusack used his strength to force his way over between the posts for a try converted by Conor Findlay.

The effects of partying hard were beginning to tell on the Reds, but up popped Jack Frame for a fine individual try converted by himself to stretch the Reds lead to 12-35.

The Reds were now all but spent and before the final whistle they conceded three tries to the home team, but held on to win and retain the West Lothian Cup.

Full time: Plaisir 29 – 35 Linlithgow

A great performance from all that took the field after a strenuous couple of days. All the young boys stuck brilliantly to their tasks. Pooch goes and goes, Archie Rusack tackles like his life depends on it, Conor very accurate from the tee, Oscar just getting better every game, Aiden Mochrie good scrummaging and support play and Muz Johnson continuing to run good lines.  Well done to all, even if not mentioned, we were all proud of you.

We then retired to french food, wine, beers and whisky.  Maybe not to all the lads taste, but the hosts treated us all very well with gifts of tee shirts beer etc.  The hosts then took us all to Versailles where the young ones continued to party and the old ones returned to Paris. 

Great trip I think everyone agrees and a big thank you to the McKeowns, both Callum and Barry, for the organisation   And of course the President for the official hand shaking!

A huge thanks to Plaisir Rugby Club for their hospitality and to Nicolas Clos, in particular, for the organisation and arrangements.  Hopefully see everyone again next year in Linlithgow.