Honour in Defeat as Academy Play Attacking Rugby
Boroughmuir Coach Praises Home Team and says
Scoreline Greatly Flatters the Visitors
Linlithgow Academy 0 Boroughmuir HS 38
Match report and photos courtesy of Graham Black
The Boys have not played a match for 6 weeks due to Christmas and the weather and were eager to perform. Prior to the kick off both teams and official stood in silence to pay their respects to the passing of a
Linlithgow kicked off and were immediately on the offensive winning ball in. For the first 20 minutes the Linlithgow team were camped in the Boroughmuir half having the majority of possession. There were several occasions when it was nearly over the try line, but unfortunately the team could not get that last push. After 15 minutes Boroughmuir managed to gain territory and move into the Linlithgow’s half. A missed pass was picked up by Boroughmuir number 20 who weaved his way up and scored under the posts. Linlithgow were not disheartened and were straight on the attack with both backs and forwards putting pressure on the Boroughmuir team, who only just prevented Cal Thomson from going over for a score.
Action from the match at Mains Park
Despite Linlithgow winning ball in line-outs, scrums, rucks, plus having lots of open field possession, they were punished when Boroughmuir capitalised on an errors and scored. The good thing was the team had belief in themselves and went back straight on the offensive.
Half Time: - Linlithgow 0 Boroughmuir 21
At half time the Linlithgow coach made some tactical changes which appeared to catch the Boroughmuir team off guard. Linlithgow collected the ball from their restart and Dougie Robb bulldozed forward. Linlithgow continued to play their rugby in the opposition's half but, against the run of play, the Boroughmuir stole the ball and managed to score in the corner failing with the conversion attempt. The Linlithgow pack still showed good spirit and moved forward into the Bourghmuir half, where we saw some good passing and running. Unfortunately, Linlithgow were not getting the breaks and they were often just one phase away from scoring. Again Boroughmuir were able to capitalise and the retreating Linlithgow defence were unable to stop the move which resulted in a score which was not converted.
Steam rises as Linlithgow press again!
Despite the score line the Linlithgow pack moved straight in to the attack there were some big scrums won by Linlithgow in addition to good line-out ball. Three times Linlithgow turned the ball over and took the game to Boroughmuir. The Linlithgow pack made 3 attempts to force their way over the Boroughmuir line, but they just couldn’t get that final move. On the last occasion they were only a couple of feet short of the Boroughmuir try line. The visitors were defending ferociously and managed to steal the ball and clear their lines. The Linlithgow team continued to play good entertaining rugby in defence and attack, but unfortunately in the last minutes of the game Boroughmuir were awarded a penalty which they took quickly and, despite some heroic defending, they were able to score a further try which they converted.
Final Score: Linlithgow 0 - Boroughmuir 38
What a difference 6 months makes - what an improvement to seasons earlier encounter! I spoke to the Boroughmuir supporters they felt that the score line did not reflect the effort that Linlithgow team had put into the match, particularly as they had played their rugby the majority of the time in the Boroughmuir half. It was also good to see Jon Blundell down at the sidelines passing his critical eye over the team. Jon remarked that he was pleased with the boy’s performance, was glad to see the effort being put in despite the score line. He was just disappointed for the boys that they just couldn’t get that final move to get the score they deserved.
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