Reports from Young Reds u14s and Wee Reds P6s
After dazzling start u14s dig deep to secure win
Linlithgow u14 49 (35) – 24 (0) Lasswade u14
Saturday 28 February 2026
Report by Alan Hunter
The smaller academy pitch was a bit soggy in places but there was a great track record for winning from the Young Reds up there. It remained dry with light winds for the game.
Lasswade certainly looked like they had the size advantage as they lined up, with their largest players in the centre and full back positions. That made sense as their game plan for the first half was to hit the crash ball time after time. The constant charges were met with a barrage of unbelievable tackling from the home team that clearly thwarted that approach and left them in a state of confusion to why they weren’t getting through the red line.
The home team started taking their chances and it was a masterclass by Jay who went over for four tries in the opening half. The most spectacular was a kick to the line from Rory that stopped 5m short of the goal line, putting Jay in a foot race with a Lasswade defender who arrived at the ball beside him. Jay slid onto the ball and wasn’t fully tackled, so sharp thinking saw him getting back up and over the line for a try of which Finn Russell and Darcy Graham would have been proud. Callum G (captain) also went over the try line. He could have had more scores but after his trademark powerful runs he was making well timed, smart offloads to his players, who were delighted to run in simple tries from his assists. His back door pass to Jay was spectacular.
We were fortunate to have 5 subs and that saw a fair shake up of the team after the interval. The away teams’ coaches must have spotted the opportunities for them out wide on the pitch if they moved the ball through the hands and that was clearly communicated to the team. When this started to transpire in the second half they started to score for the first time in the game, which gave them a renewed sense of spirit. There was a little ill discipline in the second half creeping in from the home team in the way of chat back to the referee outwith the captain. This resulted in more shuffling around, as players were temporarily subbed resulting in a few team members playing out of position. There were also the inevitable 10m gains for Lasswade at the penalties bringing them right back into the game.
Linlithgow showed great grit by not allowing the heads to go down and managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with two tries of their own in the second half against the four from the Blacks. A darting Callum F saw an opportunity and was over in a flash, then a penalty try finished Linlithgow’s score card for the day. The hundred percent conversion kicking boosted the points.
The resilient defence was the takeaway from the day. It’s hard to pick out one tackle but Lucas’s on a flat out massive full back, not only stopping him in his tracks but pushing him back was outstanding. It must also have been hard to pick a player of the match but that went to Logan C, who put in an array of dominant tackles and made ground at every opportunity. Ice baths would have been required for the players after that bruising and enthralling encounter.
Mud and rain doesn’t diminish the rugby on show
Wee Reds P6 Report
Sunday 01 March 2026
Report by Gordon White
This week, the P6 squad hosted a round robin of matches between the Linlithgow teams (The Red Bulls & The Linlithgow Lions), Hamilton and McLaren. Despite the very muddy pitch and rain, the 4 teams put on a great show of rugby!
The big plays from the Reds this week were:
- Harrison M’s brilliant debut, getting properly stuck in both when attacking and defending,
- Angus’ run and score against Hamilton, bouncing off a number of would-be tacklers on his way to the try line,
- Caleb’s and Julen’s brilliant jinking runs skipping past defenders,
- Luca being desperate to get back onto the field, despite earlier getting a bash on the nose,
- The committed, aggressive defence from all the Lions, when defending a lead against McLaren,
- The whole squad for showing great handling considering the ball was absolutely covered in mud.
The final results were:
Linlithgow Lions 3 – 1 Hamilton
Linlithgow Red Bulls 3 – 4 McLaren P7/P6s
Linlithgow Lions 3 – 2 McLaren P7/P6s
Linlithgow Red Bulls 2 – 4 Hamilton