U14 Spooktacular!
Linlithgow u14 87 – 17 Morrisons Academy u14
Saturday 01 November 2025
Report by Stuart Taylor
With the remnants of face paint still apparent and a few toffee apple hangovers the U14 Young Reds and their haunted supporters eagerly awaited the tricks and treats in store at this Halloween weekend fixture against Morrison’s Academy / Crieff and Strathearn. One thing was for sure the slippy lower mains park would indeed prove tricky for the home team and travelling team alike and it was anticipated that this may stifle the array of rugby treats that the home support had become accustomed to.
Both teams started cautiously as it had certainly been some time since the U14 squad had played with a greasy ball on a muddy pitch. Thankfully it didn’t rain during the match and when the autumn sun did make a welcome appearance it would have melted the toughest of vampires. Both teams slipped around and it was Morrison’s that gave the Reds their first fright as they floated through the Linlithgow’s defence having dodged and fended the Reds five attempted tackles before a stealth Archie emerged with ball in hand for the turnover saving the team from a an early fateful try. Both sides exchanged more wayward tackles and howling passes in the initial stages but thankfully the teams adapted their game to suit the conditions having now identified the murkiest parts of the pitch.
Jack S shook of any early cobwebs with a superb turn of pace to run in the first try of the match at the corner which proved to be a challenging first spot kick.
The beastly pressure from Lucas and Logan C paid off, as they perfected their monster mash, in fact they were a graveyard smash as Logan C crashed through the Morrisons defensive line for try number two with Lucas out muscling his opposite number shortly after to score try number 3 with Nathan and Rory bumping the spot kicks over to claim the extras.
The Linlithgowside ferociously defended their line and gained ground and kept it thanks to Baillie who made a series of spine chilling tackles and direct runs throughout the match. Rory frustrated the Morrison’s packs like a stubborn apple that bobbed and weaved around the basin refusing to be pinned down or skewered by the gnashing fangs of the opposing defence meanwhile Jay carved through the opposition’s defensive line like a knife through an over ripe pumpkin.
A fiendishly crafty run from Joe led to a wicked try from Rory who added the extras with a screaming banshee of a kick. Having scored 26 unanswered points in the first quarter the Reds plotted their next phases at the break. Though Morrisons had clearly had a swig of magic potion as they emerged from the break galvanised and ready to score points.
With some spell binding running from Scott who sliced his way through the Morrison’s pack and a devilishly good kick over the top from Rory it wasn’t long before the Reds were spooking their opponents. Like a Kraken awoken from the deep Callum emerged from the murky depths and smashed his way towards the try line demonstrating real strength and athleticism as he scored 2 tries in quick succession below the post which Rory and Nathan converted.
Red spirits were high at as the score line edged towards a convincing home win. Credit to Morrisons as they had a few tricks and treats of their own. To the Reds horror a frightful pass was intercepted by a Morrisons wizard on the wing but was thwarted by the looming shadow of Archie who menacingly tracked him down and pounced on the valiant runner crashing man and ball into touch. This lung bursting effort didn’t end the Morrison’s resolve as they intercepted an arching Reds pass and after a few decent passes Morrisons crashed over the white wash for a well worked try which was converted with ease.
Morrisons followed this score with some decent phases and forced Reds to defend their castle but there was no draw bridge to be lifted and the marauding Morrisons pack were over for another five points.
With each team scoring 2 tries in the 2nd quarter it was clear that the Morrisons monster had not been vanquished and the Reds would have to dig deep in the second half to avoid a nightmare. The two teams exchanged chilling tackles as they each fought for territory in the cauldron of lower mains park. Thankfully Reds No.10 Max didn’t need a wand as his place kicking was simply spell binding.
We’ve all heard of things that Go Bump in the Night. The Reds forward pack consisting of Logan C, Lucas and Logan P bumped and bashed their way up field gaining vital territory demonstrating a cruel efficiency with the ball in hand. The ball made its way to Rory and like the invisible man, crept and glided his way past a couple of Morrisons defenders for an excellent breakaway try below the posts which Max converted.
With a growl and grunt Scott set off like a beast possessed towards the try line swatting off and dragging a few Morrison’s players all the way to the try line for an impressively powerful solo try below the posts with Rory putting the boo in boot with a superb conversion.
A killer pass from the Morrisons full back found its way to their screaming winger who was tackled within touching distance of the try line by Lucas followed byghoulishly good jackal from Joe and a kick into space allowing for a sigh of relief from the Reds pack.
With momentum gathering and scarily good passes, supportive runs and rucks from Ruairi, Tom, Struan, Harvey, Brodie and Blair it wasn’t long before the Reds were within scoring distance again. With the apparition of Jack B who had workedtirelessly to dive over for Linlithgow’s ninth try of the day.
A fumbled Reds pass was picked up by one of the Morrisons playmakers who sped off down the left wing scoring their 3rd and final try of the day with the conversion cruelly falling short.
The final quarter was as quick if not quicker than the previous three. Morrisons had some serious speed on their wings and when the ball got out wide they really did challenge the Reds defence and their tracking. In the opening minutes Nathan showed remarkable pace and agility as he dived through the air and swooped on the Morrisons winger with a deft tap tackle that would have frightened Freddy Krueger. Nathan demonstrated that he has it all as he ran in an excellent try soon after and claimed the extras himself with a fine conversion kick.
Morrisons were not the only team that had speed on the wings with Finlay showcasing all the speed and agility of a well-tuned Nimbus 2000 as he gathered up the ball inside the Morrison’s 22 and ran in a freakishly good try at the corner.
Despite the greasy conditions Linlithgow stuck to the s-crypt and switched the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and back again. Given how hard Logan C and Lucas had playedall game it was great to see them continue to drive straight all the way to the final whistle unrelentingly tormenting the Morrisons defence. This combined with dynamic running from the Reds other big team player Callum who banged and clattered his way up the field like Frankenstein’s monster ransacking a defenceless village. It was hardly surprising when he made it through for his third and fourth tries of the day which were converted by Rory and Nathan concluding the scoring for the day.
Special mention goes to Jack S who thoroughly deserved to be voted man of the match and shone like the brightest of Jack O’Lanterns with skillful footwork, superb tackling, rapid passing to hand and a tenacity that would torment the scariest of oppositions.
This really had been a thriller on all accounts with the ground conditions failing to dampen spirits. Mud splattered and smiling the team congratulated the man of the match and posed for a team photo in front of the proud home crowd. Next up Howe of Fife, let’s hope for more fireworks!