Reds overwhelm plucky Ellon despite difficult conditions
Linlithgow Reds 60 – 5 Ellon
Saturday 13th December 2025
Report by David Mitchell with photos by Graham Black
Ellon made the long journey from north of Aberdeen for this final Arnold Clark National League Division 4 match prior to the Christmas break. The Reds won a closely fought game in September at Ellon and expected a tough challenge from the visitors to Mains Park. The weather was forecast to worsen during the match which started in windy conditions, but with rain expected to arrive by half time.
Club favourite Ross Plenderleith was a late replacement for the injured Ross Tulloch and Lewis McGill returned in the 2nd row. The versatile Cammy Murrie replaced the unavailable Archie Rusack at scrum half. A smaller than normal crowd were present for the game reflecting the bleak weather forecast.
Both teams had early handling issues, but it was the visitors who struck first with a straightforward passing move that sent their left wing into the corner for the opening try. The expected Red’s response was not long in coming when, after the pack had made several breenges at the Ellon line, Cammy Murrie passed to Jack Frame who sent Ewan Curran over for an unconverted try.
This was quickly followed by another home try when, after a surging run by Alfie Muir, Euan Mochrie went close to scoring, but the ball was recycled and Cammy Murrie combined with Oscar Davies who supplied the final pass to full back Ross Plenderleith.
The Reds continued to press the pedal, and it was no surprise when their 3rd try arrived. From a midfield scrum, Ellon tried to run the ball through the home backs, but Ruaridh Stewart emerged with the ball and galloped away to continue his try scoring streak.
Jack Frame added the extra points to make the score 17-5. The final score of the 1st half was a great demonstration of the scrum dominance exerted by the Reds. The Reds won a penalty just short of the Ellon goal line and elected to go for a pushover try. Following a textbook and well controlled scrum drive, Oscar Davies had the simplest task to touch down the ball after it crossed the line.
Half time: Reds 22 – 5 Ellon
The rain started to fall just before the 1st half ended and with both wind and rain in their favour in the 2nd half, the Reds team had the opportunity to put on a bit of a show for the expectant crowd, many of whom had retreated to the warmth of the clubhouse.
The weather continued to deteriorate throughout the 2nd half, but the Reds managed a further 6 tries which was a great effort in such trying circumstances. The opening try was scored after a neat break by Cammy Murrie after a line-out allowed Lewis McGill to pass to Kyle Ormond who in turn sent Ewan Curran over unopposed for his 2nd try of the afternoon.
Jack Frame added the conversion to put the Reds into an unassailable lead as Ellon struggled to gain entry into the Red’s half of the field.
The next try was a planned move with Ewan Curran taking the ball at stand off and driving hard at the Ellon midfield and managing a fine offload to Alfie Muir who slid over for a well worked try to which Jack Frame added the extra points.
The coaching staff began to deploy the replacements with Freddy Adcock, Kieran Cochrane, Eioan Magee and Cam McHardy all getting valuable game time during the 2nd half.
The home forwards were trying hard to cross the whitewash with several strong drives and eventually they scored a try following a solid scrum, a clean pick up by Oscar Davies, and with the final touchdown being supplied by the lurking Euan Mochrie who burst over to cap a fine individual display. Jack Frame again added the conversion.
The Ruaridh Stewart show continued to roll along when he dived full length to score the next try after Alfie Muir’s kick ahead with Alfie adding the conversion.
By this time, the Ellon guys were still trying to run the ball out of defence but handling conditions were getting more difficult and they conceded 2 further tries. Ruaridh Stewart picked up a dropped ball and sent Freddy Adcock away on a 30-metre run to the line for his 1st try on his return to the Club. The final try was well worked and involved a scrum pick up by Kieran Cochrane who linked with Alfie Muir and Fraser Mochrie who, with the hint of a dummy, charged upfield before the ball was swung left for Ruaridh Stewart to complete his hat trick of tries.
The final whistle was welcomed by all as players and spectators sought refuge in the warm clubhouse.
Final score: Linlithgow Reds 60 – 5 Ellon
Reds Team
Front row: Calum McKeown, Kyle Ormond, Andrew Graham
Second row: Fraser Mochrie (capt), Lewis McGill
Back row: Euan Mochrie, Jamie Tulloch, Oscar Davies
Half-backs: Cammy Murrie, Jack Frame
Centres: Alfie Muir, Ruaridh Stewart
Back three: Ewan Curran, Luke O’Hara, Ross Plenderleith
Subs (all played):
Cameron McHardy, Eioan Magee, Freddie Adcock, Kieran Cochrane
Comment
Another big performance with a 10 try haul in very difficult conditions and against an opponent who never gave up despite the dominance of the home team.
The solid foundations for the win were provided by a huge shift put in by the forward pack with the whole front row of Calum McKeown, Kyle Ormond and Andrew Graham being awarded Players of the Match by the sponsoring Ladies Day attendees. The front 5 all carried the ball with purpose, and they have developed into a very useful outfit often faced by bigger packs but deploying technique and determination to regularly more than hold their own.
The back row was tireless both in defence and attack in conditions that they relished. They were collectively responsible for several key turnovers in the 1st half, when the home goal line was under pressure. The scrum was dominant from early in the game and some of the lineout play was outstanding in the conditions. Kyle Ormond regularly found his twin targets of Lewis McGill and Oscar Davies with accuracy on a day when the line-out could have been a real lottery.
The backs all contributed with Alfie Muir and Ross Plenderleith both putting in eye catching performances. Alfie’s straight running and ability to read defences was a huge plus and Ross rolled back the years with some barnstorming runs to soften up the Ellon defence. Wingers Luke O’Hara and Ewan Curran regularly went looking for work and Ewan was unlucky to be denied a hat trick of tries by a forward pass.
The half backs made good use of the wind especially in the 2nd half with some 50/22 kicks including one by Jack Frame which took play from inside the home 22 metre area fully 60 metres into the Ellon 22 metre area. Finally, another field day for centre Ruaridh Stewart who scored a hat trick of tries making it 8 tries for him in the last 3 games. An outstanding individual contribution for a player who seems to be on wheels as he glides past the opposition.
The Reds sit in 4th place in Division 4 with 43 points from 8 wins and 4 losses and resume league business away to Moray at Elgin on Saturday 10th January, weather permitting.