Reds test Cartha all the way

Cartha Queens Park 24 – 7   Linlithgow Reds

Saturday 22nd November 2025

Report by Craig Young, photos by Graham Black

Linlithgow travelled west for the second Saturday in a row to face unbeaten Cartha, who have amassed 389 points for in their first 6 games. Linlithgow were almost back to full strength, although missing both captain Fraser Mochrie and his usual 2nd row partner Lewis McGill.

Linlithgow kicked off on the small pitch as the ball landed 3 metres from the goal line. For the first 10 minutes things were even as both teams tested each other out. The home team opened the scoring with a converted try and were dominating.  The Cartha tackling was fierce, but Linlithgow were matching them, and thanks to the solid defense and a few errors on the part of the hosts, Linlithgow came more into the game, and scored a magnificent try in the corner. Around the hallway line, Jack Frame sent a perfectly weighted kick along the ground for Ross Tulloch to pounce on, with Jack Frame converting from wide.

Linlithgow were well into this game, matching the home side for effort and aggression, but they had to defend desperately at times. More than once Cartha were on the Linlithgow goal line but each time they were repelled. Linlithgow were more than happy when the referee blew for half time.

Half time: Cartha Queens Park 7 – 7 Linlithgow

The first 10 minutes of the second half were even, but you could tell the home players were frustrated. They made a lot of uncharacteristic errors, but as they became more and more dominant they inevitably scored another try under the posts (converted). There was a question mark over the grounding and tempers frayed as the handbags came out for the first time. This was a very tight game and Linlithgow were awarded a penalty from the restart in a kickable position. They went for touch instead and lost possession from the line out. Amazingly, Linlithgow were awarded a second penalty in a more kickable position, but again they wend for the touch and lost possession again. By now there was a fair amount of needle in the match and, as the tackles became fiercer, Cartha became dominant scoring an unconverted try in the corner. More handbags in midfield when Jamie Tulloch was manhandled but no punishment was forthcoming. Linlithgow lost all hope of a comeback when Jack Frame was yellow carded for a high tackle.  Cartha completed the scoring near the end with another unconverted try, securing the bonus point.  

Final score: Cartha Queens Park 24 – 7 Linlithgow Reds

Reds Team

Front row: Calum McKeown, Kyle Ormond, Andrew Graham
Second row: Kieran Cochrane, Eioan Magee
Back row: Euan Mochrie, Jamie Tulloch, Oscar Davies

Half-backs: Archie Rusack, Jack Frame
Centres: Alfie Muir, Ruaridh Stewart
Back three: Ewan Curran, Luke O’Hara, Ross Tulloch

Subs (all played): 
Aiden Mochrie, Freddie Adcock, Ross Plenderleith

Comment

This was a great match to watch. Very intense for at least an hour as Linlithgow refused to be bullied, and it was only in the last 15 minutes that Cartha managed to secure the win. And Linlithgow scored one of the tries of the season! For the Reds, another tricky away fixture next week away at Whitecraigs (KO 2pm) who are only 1 point behind Linlithgow in the league table.

Oscar Davies returned after an injury lay-off to bolster the line-out