Reds u18s in tight conference clash

Linlithgow 18 – 24 Madras

Saturday 27 September 2025

Report by Nick Smith 

This week’s serving was a tough game with Madras College, St Andrews.  With both teams vying for top spot in the conference there was aways be an encounter with a bit of added spice.

Madras kicked off, giving us an early penalty for a breakdown infringement.  We looked ready and began to assert pressure through our line-out and some big carries from our rumbling forwards.  However before we knew Madras had scored.  Some confusion in our ranks fielding a kick and a ball that bounced unexpectedly, meant they were through, under the posts and seven points ahead.

We found ourselves under pressure again as Madras worked the ball up field going through a number of phases.  Eventually it told and they kicked a further 3 points from a penalty.

We knew we needed to regather ourselves and get a foot hold in the game.  Ewan performed his usual acrobatics at the kick-off winning us the ball.  From this point on we began to apply the pressure. Some big carries from Josh, Greg and Kai made good ground and tested their defence.  Eventually this told and Joe was able to convert points from a penalty and we were off the mark.  We found ourselves in their 22 on a number of occasions after some great work from the forwards only for a last moment turned-over or knock-on to allow Madras to clear their lines.

Our moment did arrive through after a prolonged period of pressure we found ourselves hammering their tryline in the right hand corner.  The space was out wide and that’s where we needed to ship the ball.  Joe passed out Aiden, who flipped it on to Ewan (as spectators we could all see the intent but would he get the ball out to the flanks in time); Ewan nudged it on to Ali B who sent a miss pass, as crisp as a poppadom, out to Angus who had the pace to dive in the corner.  This was our try of the season so far.

The rest of the half saw us defending wave after wave of attacks from Madras.  But some strong tackling from Ross, T-J (who was a menace on the turn-over all game) and Cammy kept Madras’s lead down to 12-10 at the break.

The second half saw us start strongly.  A scrum on the 22 gave us a platform with plenty of options.  With Joe going one way as the decoy, the fresh-legged Callum was able to do what he does best from the back of the scrum and barged his way through two unfortunate defenders to score.  This took us into a slim lead.

We then lost Liam to an unfortunate eye incident which left his face looking as through it had had an argument with a nail-gun.  We wish him a swift recovery. 

We continued to put together some good phase play and looked by far the better team for most of the half.  In one of our attack plays the Madras defence came up far too quick and Aiden took full advantage, stepping and the rounding his opposite number for our third try.

We were set for a close finish.  Unfortunately we lost a bit of composure as Madras scored two quick break away tried to win the game 24-18.

It was great game to watch and had a bit of everything.  The boys clearly worked their socks off and their fitness is improving, but perhaps with still a little way to go.  We will have another opportunity against Madras but we will need to put that aside for another day. Its Dundee on Tuesday for a rematch, which will be another tough game.