Excellent first half sets up good win at Dunfermline
Dunfermline 26 – 33 Linlithgow
Saturday 6 September 2025
Report by David Mitchell, photos contest of Graham Black
McKane Park was the venue for this Arnold Clark National League Division 4 encounter on Saturday. In the corresponding fixture last season, the teams fought out a 29-29 draw, so with both teams losing last week they were keen to win this battle and claim a first league victory.
There was a sizeable crowd of supporters present with the away support being there in good numbers and as noisy as ever. The Reds had a few returning players but were still without some key players e.g. Calum McKeown, Andrew Graham, Ruaridh Stewart and last season’s top player Jamie Tulloch. Kieran Cochrane moved to loose head and Lewis McGill covered for Jamie’s absence at flanker, and both put in good shifts against heavier opposition.
The game started ominously for the visitors with the Dunfermline team starting powerfully and it was no surprise when they scored the opening try following a short penalty move. However, the Reds quickly responded with some good positional play providing the platform to attack the home defence. Jack Frame took a quick tapped penalty and after a few solid thrusts at the Dunfermline pack, Archie Rusack sent the ball left where Jack Frame created an overlap and sent winger Ewan Curran in for a try which Frame converted from the touchline.
Despite having the bigger players, Dunfermline were unable to make any inroads into Linlithgow territory. In fact, the home team began to make basic mistakes, some due to pressure from the Reds, and this led to a flurry of opportunities which the visitors exploited efficiently with a combination of strong teamwork and some individual excellence. The next try came after a clean break through the middle of the pitch by Oscar Davies. Following a solid scrum, both Ross Tulloch and Oscar Davies made good ground with powerful driving play, and the ball was quickly recycled with Kieran Cochrane’s pass giving Jack Frame the space to slice through the defence and score a try in the corner. He also added the conversion with a carbon copy of his first successful kick.
Jack Frame slices through the defence for his try
The Reds were now on fire as almost everything they tried was coming off. Both Jack Frame and Ross Tulloch were kicking tactically and dragging the home defenders around the field. From one such kick by Jack Frame, the ball bounced kindly for the Reds and Ewan Curran collected the ball, swerved inside his opposite number and set sail for the posts in a lung bursting run that ended with him diving in for an excellent try. Jack Frame added the extra points to make the score 7-21.
The Reds were playing with real assurance and purpose and the next try exemplified that when after the ball was won by the pack, Archie Rusack spotted space on the right side, and he combined with Murray Johnstone and Luke O’Hara who charged down the touchline before making a perfect offload to send Murray Johnstone over for the try.
Luke O’Hara (top) charges up the wing and offloads to Murray Johnstone for the try
At this stage the home side were making no real progress into Reds’ territory and only an isolated incidence of poor tackling allowed a mazy run that resulted in a converted try to make the score 14-26 as half time approached. However, there was still time for another try for the visitors when Ross Tulloch took a quick penalty and drove towards the Dunfermline line and the forwards piled in behind him. This sucked in the home defence and created space on the right wing where Alfie Muir delivered the best pass of the afternoon over the outstretched arms of the home winger to send Ewan Curran over for his hat trick try. Jack Frame added the conversion.
Hat-trick hero Ewan Curran gave another virtuoso performance, this week on the wing
Half Time: Dunfermline 14 – 33 Linlithgow Reds
This was probably the most efficient half of rugby played by the Reds for a while and they combined control, patience and execution in equal measure. They also carried last week’s excellent defence into this game with the pack as a whole fronting up well against a heavier and taller home pack and steadying the ship after a rocky first 10 minutes.
Unfortunately for the large travelling support, and no doubt the team and coaching staff as well, the 2nd half was a real disappointment with the Reds being unable to add to their score. Dunfermline managed 2 converted tries to bring the score to 26-33 with 10 minutes left and a tense finish was anticipated. However, the Reds pinned the home side deep in their half for the remainder of the game and the visitors came close to adding to their score but could not find a way through the home defence.
The Reds’ bench all got game time in the 2nd half with Aiden Mochrie, Alex McHardy and Cammy Murrie appearing and with a welcome return from Freddie Adcock who put in some thumping tackles. Special mention for young Aiden who held his own against his opposite number and was prominent in a very strong scrummage near the end that pushed the Dunfermline pack off the ball and gained a penalty that cemented the win.
The Reds discipline was questionable in the 2nd half with the reversal of a penalty and some back chat allowing the home side to get into the Reds’ half and score 2 tries from nowhere. Also, the decision making was a bit dubious as several players tended to carry the ball too far rather than continuing the passing and offloading game that had proven so successful in the 1st half.
Final score: Dunfermline 26 – 33 Linlithgow Reds
Reds Team
Front row: Kieran Cochrane, Kyle Ormond, Colin Devlin
Second row: Eioan Magee, Fraser Mochrie (captain)
Back row: Euan Mochrie, Lewis McGill, Oscar Davies
Half-backs: Archie Rusack, Jack Frame
Centres: Murray Johnstone, Alfie Muir
Back three: Ewan Curran, Luke O’Hara, Ross Tulloch
Subs (all played):
Aiden Mochrie, Alex McHardy, Fred Adcock, Cammy Murrie
Comment
A Bonus Point win against a strong opponent but Dunfermline should never have had the chance to gain 2 Bonus points. If the 1st half game plan had been replicated in the 2nd half, then it would surely have led to a more comprehensive win.
Overall, a good result that showed the ability to bounce back after last week’s narrow defeat. The scrum was under pressure for long periods but still produced good ball for the backs with props Colin Devlin and an injured Kieran Cochrane both standing up well to bigger opponents. The line-out operated well with the usual main contributions from Kyle Ormand and Oscar Davies. The swarm defence put Dunfermline under pressure to such an extent that their attacking efforts were largely nullified and Euan Mochrie and Lewis McGill performed well in tandem with Number 8 Oscar Davies. Alex McHardy showed up well putting in some great tackles before he had to leave the field injured.
The back line looked dangerous throughout the game but in the 2nd half there was a less expansive feel to their play. The tactical kicking was strong particularly in the 1st half. The passing, offloading and support running were excellent with both wingers carrying hard at the home defence. Archie Rusack and Jack Frame continue to develop their partnership and both centres were prominent on several occasions. Ross Tulloch fielded the high ball well and often returned it with interest as well as running strongly in a good overall performance.
Jack Frame was MoTM with 5 conversions and a try
Next week the Reds are away at Ellon with a 3pm start. Let’s hope for a big travelling support to cheer on the boys.