Brave Reds go down with all guns blazing in National League Cup Quarter Final
Linlithgow 17 – 51 Gordonians
Saturday 22 March 2025
Report by David Mitchell with photos courtesy of Graham Black
A large crowd was treated to an exciting tie that saw the Reds battle gamely against Arnold Clark National League Division 2 Champions Gordonians, but the visitors prevailed in the end. The visitors arrived from Aberdeen having lost only 2 games all season in National League Division 2 and presented a difficult task for the Reds, but the home team fought bravely and with great attitude to offer a solid challenge to their high-flying opponents.
Before the game, the Club hosted a lunch for members and guests with 68 participants being welcomed to Mains Park. In addition, Linlithgow Rugby Club were declared the Community Rugby Club of the season for the area covering Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian and Club Secretary Ken Richardson was personally recognised as the Volunteer of the Season in Schools for his liaison work with Linlithgow Academy. Well done to both the Club and Ken for these worthy achievements.
The pitch and overhead weather conditions were both ideal to ensure a fast and furious game and that is what spectators got on the day. The main significant absentee for the Reds was the injured Luke O’Hara but the team has been boosted by the quality of back up players this season and Saturday was no exception.
The Reds made a good start with Conor Findlay’s excellent opening kick-off being knocked on by the Gordonians receiver. However, the resulting scrum showed the power of the visitors’ pack with intense pressure on the home scrummage. The Reds did open the scoring after a great turnover when Jack Frame kicked a penalty from just inside the Gordonians half to give the crowd some early encouragement. The game was fairly even for the next 15 minutes as the Reds’ tacklers did a good job against some abrasive running in particular from the visitors’ Number 8 forward. The Reds countered with some strong running from forwards and backs alike with both Ross Tulloch and Cammy Murrie being denied tries when very close to scoring.
The game was very competitive until a poor 5 minute spell when Gordonians scored 3 tries in quick succession with a combination of home failings such as soft tackling, difficulty in fielding high kicks and making wrong decisions which allowed the score to move quickly to 3-17. At this stage of the game, the home side were in danger of being overrun but to their great credit they regrouped and stemmed the onslaught from Gordonians. Although the visitors scored another try, the Reds finally got a try to match it. After a good midfield break by Conor Findlay, the Reds enjoyed a period of pressure in the visitors’ 22 metre area and Ru Stewart sent captain Jack Frame over in the corner for a fine try and he added the extra points to take the score to 10-22 as half time approached.
Jack Frame scoring the Reds opening try which he superbly converted himself from the “wrong” touchline to add to his earlier 49 metre penalty
Unfortunately, there was still time for a 5th Gordonians try and half time arrived with the score at 10-27. With 7 replacements being allowed in the competition, the break allowed early changes to be made with all 7 from the Reds’ bench being deployed during the 2nd half.
The 2nd half started badly for the home side with yellow cards issued to key players Euan Mochrie and Ross Martin within a few minutes of each other and a shoulder injury for Conor Findlay who also had to leave the field. All credit to the home defence in that they only conceded 1 try during the period when they were reduced to 13 men.
Fraser Mochrie came off the bench at half-time and carried strongly
In fact, when they were restored to a full 15, they exerted some pressure deep in the visitors’ territory and were unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions. During this phase Jack Frame had to retire injured and Gordonians scored a very good try under the posts. Murray Johnstone had to move in to become the 3rd Number 10 of the day for the Reds and he seamlessly took on the role with great assurance. Calum Lindsay, alongside some excellent tackling, also had a couple of great runs just foiled by an opposition interception that ended with them scoring after some show boating resulted in another try.
Back came the Reds and after some very aggressive running and handling they forced a penalty from the visitors and Cammy Murrie reacted immediately to send Euan Mochrie in for a fine try to round off another wholehearted performance from the ever-consistent Number 6.
Euan Mochrie, identified by Gordonians as their Reds MotM, scores for the Reds
Murray Johnstone added the conversion to make the score 17-46 but there was still time for another score. Unfortunately, the final try was scored by the visitors when, as the home side pushed for another score, the ball bounced up into the waiting hands of a Gordonian and he trotted in for a try. The last conversion attempt was one of the worst seen at Mains Park in many a year with the ball going closer to the corner flag than the posts.
Final score: Linlithgow Reds 17 – 51 Gordonians
Reds Team
Murray Johnstone (12) was nominated Reds MotM by the match sponsors
A heroic performance from the Reds with the final score flattering the visitors. The 5-minute spell in the 1st half and the lucky bounce for the final try made it look more comfortable than it was. If the Reds had managed to convert some early scoring opportunities the outcome may have been the same but with a much closer scoreline, however credit to Gordonians for their attitude to the game and their clinical finishing and they may well be favourites to win the National League Cup on Silver Saturday at Murrayfield.
All the bench contributed to the game – here Johnny Pegg, Calum Lindsay and Ewan Curran (all subs) feature in second half action
There were many strong performances throughout the team and all 22 should be very proud of their individual and collective efforts. Murray Johnstone again showed his flexibility when moving from 12 to 10 and replacements Ewan Curran and Calum Lindsay both showed up very well from the bench. The forwards to a man played with aggression, the back row were again prominent, and in particular Kyle Ormond and Oscar Davies combined well in the line-out. The front five had a real challenge all day but stood up well against a bigger and heavier unit.
The Reds line-out functioned well, particularly with Kyle Ormond and Oscar Davies
The team demonstrated many fine qualities including aggression, enthusiasm, effort and a determination to play attacking rugby.
The last 15 a-side game for the 1st XV is against Moray at Elgin on Saturday 5th April when the team will travel north to attempt to consolidate their 4th position in the Division.