7 try blitz from Reds overcomes a resilient Dunfermline outfit
Linlithgow Reds 47 – 5 Dunfermline
Saturday 06 December 2025
Report by David Mitchell with photos from Graham Black
Mains Park welcomed visitors Dunfermline in this Arnold Clark National League Division 4 clash. After last week’s great win at Whitecraigs, the home side was looking to follow up with another solid performance and welcomed back Oscar Davies, Kieran Cochrane and Ewan Curran to the starting line up.
Weather conditions were fine during the match, but the players had to contend with a soft pitch after earlier rain.
On receiving the opening kick-off, the Reds showed early intent to play an expansive game and put the visiting team under severe pressure across the whole field of play. After some slick passing and close support play, the home side opened the scoring when Ruaridh Stewart easily rounded his opposite number and cruised around to dot the ball down under the posts. Jack Frame added the extra points.
Ruaridh Stewart runs in his first of three tries
The visiting side fought back with a series of attacks, but the Reds’ defence was solid and eventually Oscar Davies forced a turnover that resulted in the award of a penalty to the home team. Instead of a conventional kick to touch, Jack Frame spun the ball to Kieran Cochrane who linked with Alfie Muir and Ruaridh Stewart to send Ewan Curran flying down the left wing. Ewan fed an inside pass to the supporting Archie Rusack who ran 20 metres before timing a lovely pass to Alfie Muir who dived over at the posts for a try to which Jack Frame added the conversion.
Alfie Muir runs in the Reds second try
The home side were full of confidence and nearly scored 2 more tries. Firstly, Jack Frame chased a fine kick by Ross Tulloch but knocked on just short of the line, and secondly, Ross Tulloch was held up over the try line by strong Dunfermline defence. However, the home scoring was resumed with a 2nd try from Ruaridh Stewart after a solid scrum created the platform for Jack Frame to deliver a short pass to send the centre bursting through the Dunfermline midfield and score out wide. Jack Frame added the extra points to give the home side a 21-0 lead as half time approached.
Try number two for Ruaridh Stewart
The frustration level for the visitors was soon apparent as they had a sustained period of possession but could not score and had to suffer another slick breakaway try from the Reds. Ross Tulloch flipped a one-handed pass to Ewan Curran who stormed up the touchline exchanging passes with flanker Euan Mochrie who sent the winger away to score the Bonus Point try.
Euan Mochrie about to give the scoring pass to his winger
Half-time: Linlithgow Reds 26 – 0 Dunfermline
The 2nd half started with the all too familiar period of poor concentration and abandoning the expansive game that had been so successful during the 1st half. To their credit, Dunfermline took the opportunity to attack in numbers and deservedly scored an unconverted try wide out on the right.
At this juncture, the Reds deployed 3 replacements, namely Stuart Cunningham, Eioan Magee and Freddie Adcock and the team began to revert to a more successful game plan i.e. win the ball, play for territory and move the ball wide.
The result was an immediate return to a dominant position and more try scoring opportunities with Ross Tulloch being denied a try when the referee judged that the full back had knocked the ball on in the act of scoring. Cam McHardy was also deployed from the bench for his 2nd outing, and he threw himself into a few challenges with real gusto.
Eventually 3 more tries were scored by the Reds with the first from Kieran Cochrane plunging over from short range (see photo below) after a powerful charge from Stuart Cunningham was halted just short of the line.
Further tries were scored by captain Fraser Mochrie and hat trick hero Ruaridh Stewart (see photos below). Jack Frame converted all 3 of the 2nd half tries to complete a very good 47-5 win for the Reds.
Final score: Linlithgow Reds 47 – 5 Dunfermline
The Wells family look on as Ewan Curran makes the initial break that leads to his try
Reds Team
Front row: Calum McKeown, Kyle Ormond, Andrew Graham
Second row: Fraser Mochrie (capt), Kieran Cochrane
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):
Cameron McHardy, Stuart Cunningham, Eioan Magee, Freddie Adcock
Comment
Another thumping win for the home side with only a sleepy 10 minute session just after half time interrupting a really successful game plan.
Forwards and backs combined well in open play, defence was solid and the forward set pieces were good, with parity in the scrums and a slight advantage in the line out. There were too many excellent performances to name them all individually but special mention to Ruaridh Stewart for his 3 try haul making it 5 tries in the last 2 games for him.
Next week Ellon are the visitors to Mains Park for the final Division 4 game pre-Christmas, and the players would be pleased to see a large and noisy support in attendance to drive them on to achieve an 8-4 record to cement a top half league position.
Study in concentration and determination on all faces in this excellent action shot from Graham Black