Fantastic Reds finish the season on a high note with a win over the Champions Elect
Linlithgow Reds 29 – 26 Cartha Queens Park
Saturday 28 March 2026
Report by David Mitchell, photos courtesy of Graham Black
Unbeaten Division 4 leaders Cartha Queens Park provided the opposition for the Reds on a bright and breezy day at Mains Park in the home team’s final league match of season 2025/26. A win for the visitors would secure the title of Arnold Clark National League Division 4 champions but the Reds provided the stiffest of tests and the result was in doubt until late in the game.
For the home side, Kieran Cochrane slotted into the 2nd row with regular lock Lewis McGill dropping into the back row in place of the unavailable Euan Mochrie. The other change was the introduction of Ross Plenderleith on the wing for the injured Luke O’Hara. A larger than normal crowd was in attendance with quite a few supporting the visitors.
The Reds kicked off into the stiff breeze and were soon camped in the Cartha 22 metre area after a fine early break by Ruaridh Stewart. The visitors were penalised and after a quick tap penalty, the ball was fed to Alfie Muir who slipped a pass to Jack Frame who stretched out to score the try.
Cartha were stung into action by the early Reds’ try and responded with a try by their scrum half from short range which was converted. The visitors were playing at pace with good handling moves involving forwards and backs and looked threatening on several occasions. However, some aggressive tackling by the Reds kept the Cartha side at bay as the battle lines were drawn in the midfield. Both sides were competing fiercely at the breakdowns, and neither was gaining a clear dominance. The scrums and line-outs were evenly contested despite a physical size advantage being held by the visitors and the home pack’s solid technique was never more valuable.
The Reds scored next when Ewan Curran made ground in the middle and then fed Jack Frame who left the Cartha fullback riveted to the spot with an extravagant swerve and Jack cruised in for his 2nd try of the game.
Cartha regained the lead with another converted try to make the score 10-14 after 30 minutes. As the 1st half approached a conclusion, both teams made valiant efforts to score but defences remained secure and so the half ended with Cartha holding a slender lead.
Half time: Linlithgow Reds 10 – 14 Cartha Queens Park
Although being 4 points adrift, the Reds would have the advantage of the stiff breeze behind them for the 2nd 40 minutes if they could get the game management correct.
Both sides had spells of good possession and territory in the early stages of the half, but defences held firm with the Reds also being able to kick deep into Cartha’s half where they began to win penalties. However, the next home try soon followed. Jack Frame sent a long kick from his own 22 metre line and into the Cartha dead ball area. A good chase forced the Cartha winger to kick into midfield where Ross Tulloch caught the ball, and he passed to Ewan Curran who made ground into the Cartha 22 metre area where he off loaded an inside pass to Alfie Muir who then swerved past the last 2 defenders to score the try.
Cartha again responded with a converted try to make the score 15-21. At this stage, the Reds had sent on their replacements all of whom made significant contributions. Cam McHardy played a key part in the pushover try, Eioan Magee carried the ball strongly at the Cartha defence, Freddie Adcock put in some thumping tackles, and Murray Johnstone proved what a good footballer he is by slotting a difficult conversion.
The Reds scored the Bonus Point Try with about 10 minutes remaining when, after good carries by Lewis McGill and Eioan Magee, scrum half Archie Rusack spotted space on the right, and he sent the ball to Murray Johnstone. He linked with Jack Frame who released Ru Stewart who was stopped a few yards short of the try line but managed to slip the ball to Jack Frame who romped in for his hat trick try.
The scorer was injured in the act of scoring, but Murray Johnstone converted the try with a fine kick from the touchline to put the home side 22-21 ahead.
The key try followed soon after and came from a scrum 5 metres from the Cartha posts. Following a yellow card being shown to a Cartha player, the home pack marched the Cartha pack over the line and Oscar Davies touched down for a try that was greeted by wild celebrations. Jack Frame added the extra points to make it a 2-score lead at 29-21.
Unsurprisingly, Cartha threw everything they had in attacking the Reds’ try line for the last few minutes of the game. But the home defence resisted brilliantly, à la Rorke’s Drift, making an immense effort with some thunderous last gasp tackles and deploying a ‘thou shall not score’ mentality.
However, the visitors did manage an unconverted try with the last action of the game and then great scenes of celebration greeted the final whistle.
Final Score: Linlithgow Reds 29 – 26 Cartha Queens Park
Reds Team
Front row: Calum McKeown, Kyle Ormond, Andrew Graham
Second row: Fraser Mochrie (capt), Kieran Cochrane
Back row: Lewis McGill, Jamie Tulloch, Oscar Davies
Half-backs: Archie Rusack, Jack Frame
Centres: Alfie Muir, Ruaridh Stewart
Back three: Ewan Curran, Ross Plenderleith, Ross Tulloch
Subs (all played):
Cameron McHardy, Freddie Adcock, Murray Johnstone, Eioan Magee
Comment
A fabulous effort by the Reds in a very competitive game with the result in doubt until the final stages. A reward for the home side of sticking to an aggressive, brave and high risk attacking style using the forwards to drive hard and straight and the backs to play in the wide channels.
The team’s defensive effort was gargantuan, and the crowd were treated to a young side fronting up against good opposition and acting as a unit. Everyone played a part in carving out this win and it would not be appropriate to single out individuals. A real team performance by a squad of players still getting better with every game.
The coaching team of Dougie Thomson and Matt Dixon, supported by Graeme McCallum, continue to develop both individual player talent and unit/team skills in a progressive manner aided in no small part by a real consistency in the selection of players.
Although destined to finish in 4th place again this year, the statistics show a real improvement from last season.
The team won 11 matches versus 8 last season.
They also had a positive points differential of 262 versus only 53 last season.
In addition, the Reds gained more Bonus Point Tries and Losing Bonus Points as well as gaining 58 league points versus only 44 last season.
So, in summary, improvements in all the key facets of the game. Roll on 2026/27!
Arnold Clark National League Division 4
(as of end March 2026)
Footnotes
Cartha Queens Park still have two rescheduled matches to play, against Moray and against Hamilton and, barring major surprises, should deservedly claim the league title by the season end.
The Reds played both home and away against Ellon, while they were still in the league, and won both matches with a try bonus point.