Great away win for young 2s side at Ayr
Ayr 2As 33 – 39 Linlithgow 2s
Saturday 04 October 2025
Match report by Fraser Mochrie
The Reds 2s travelled to Millbrae to take an Ayr 2As in Linlithgow’s only match of the day after the 1st XV game was cancelled due to the weather – waterlogged pitch at Kilmarnock. The conditions were dry but a swirling wind on the Ayr 4G pitch made for an interesting day for the kickers.
Linlithgow – captained by Matty Sommerville – started the game strongly, carrying with intent and were rewarded when Max Holt powered over for the 2nd XVs first points of the season. The conversion was missed to make it 0-5 to the visitors. This sparked a reaction from the hosts who scored 3 converted tries to take a 21-5 lead.
Linlithgow maintained their composure and, after some slick passing in the backline, Calum Lindsay – returning from injury – outstripped the final defender to make the score 21-10. Despite some strong carrying from the home team, Linlithgow defended well and challenged Ayr at the breakdown – winning a penalty from an excellent turnover from Lewis Smith. From the ensuing line-out, Alfie Muir cut an excellent line through the midfield to go under the posts untouched. The try was converted by Fraser Miller to make the score at halftime 21-17.
Linlithgow started the second half with the same intensity and were rewarded when Ethan O’Hara crossed for a try in the corner after some slick passing in the backline. The conversion was missed to make the score 21-22. Euan McCartney powered over shortly afterwards with Fraser Miller slotting the conversion to make the score 21-29. Ayr were not out of it yet though and crossed for another converted score to keep the game tight at 28-29. Ross Findlater, who had an excellent outing overall, was rewarded when he powered over from short range, unconverted, to stretch Linlithgow’s lead to 28-34. The hosts again responded with a score, the first of the day that they could not convert, to peg Linlithgow’s lead back to 33-34.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued with Linlithgow showing great confidence in their passing and offloading, despite the conditions. Lewis Smith, who was a menace at the breakdown all afternoon, scored a well-deserved try to stretch the lead to 33-39. The hosts continued to chase a winning score with the clock in the red and were putting some good phases together in Linlithgow’s 22 but a match winning turnover from Archie Rusack allowed Murray Johnstone fire the ball into touch securing the season’s first win for the 2nd XV!
Full Time: Ayr 2As 33 – 39 Linlithgow 2s
Linlithgow 2s
Front row: Adam Philip, Max Holy, Matty Somerville (captain)
Second row: Jacob Rosenfeld, Tom Gardener
Back row: Lewis Smith, Fin Chadwick, Ross Findlater
Half-backs: Euan McCartney, Fraser Millar
Centres: Ruaridh MacLeod, Jack Magee
Back three: Alex Hall, Ethan O’Hara, Calum Lindsay
Subs (all played):
Alfie Muir, Murray Johnstone, Archie Rusack
Club Captain’s Comment
Despite the conditions, Linlithgow played some excellent rugby – a solid set-piece and strong carrying in the forwards allowing the backline to spread the ball wide and stretch the home side. After a tough start to the season for the 2nd XV, this was a well needed victory for the young side – with many any of last season’s U18s to the fore, the average age of the squad was just 19! Next weekend sees both 1st and 2nd XVs at home to Stewartry and Musselburgh respectively.