Academy Back on Winning Track

Linlithgow Academy 1st XV  13  - 5  North Berwick HS 2nd XV

Match report and photos courtesy of Graham Black:

The Academy team have not played a competitive match since 23rd of January 2010. The players  have been training hard for their Brewin Dolphin Plate Quarter  final which was postponed at the last minute. So they were eager to put in a good performance.

North Berwick HS are one of the strongest rugby schools in Scotland, only losing 6-0 in Round 4 of the Brewin Dolphin U18 Schools' Cup to eventual finalists Edinburgh Academy.  Their 2nd XV, as a result, is as strong as most schools' 1st XVs.

North Berwick kicked off the match up the slope, Linlithgow quickly won the ball and were on the offensive hungry for a score. Both teams seemed eager to perform they were competing for every ball in a fast flowing game and because of this mistakes were being made. About 15 minutes into the match Linlithgow were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. This was in Stuart Kelly’s range and he slotted it over for 3 points.

North Berwick restarted and were on the offensive eager to get some points of their own. Their advances were halted when Andrew Wood won the ball in the line out and play moved back into North Berwick’s half.  We saw Linlithgow moving forward passing the ball and rucking well. North Berwick started to win the ball and moved into Linlithgow’s half passing the ball along the line one of the North Berwick players and only had Stuart Kelly to beat when he made a score saving tackle. Linlithgow won the ball back but immediately gave it back to North Berwick and they immediately began their counter attack. An infringement was committed on the 22, North Berwick were awarded a kickable penalty which they failed to convert. Linlithgow restarted the play, but unfortunately North Berwick won the ball back and were straight on the offensive hungry for a score.

Linlithgow defended well and cleared their lines and moved from defence into attack advancing into North Berwick’s half after a number of passes through the lines the ball finally ending up into the hands Ross Plenderleith who snaked his way past a couple of defender and scored a try which was converted.

North Berwick restarted the match and won the ball and were straight on the attack.  Linlithgow defended well, but a scrum  was awarded to North Berwick 5 yards from the try line.  Linlithgow won the ball but immediately kicked it back to a North Berwick Player who weaved his way past several players.  A maul was formed and North Berwick pushed the Linlithgow pack over their own line.  All the players are on their feet and the referee blows up for a penalty - after a few seconds he indicates he has awarding a penalty try, although no one knew why. North Berwick failed to convert the try despite it being directly in front of the posts.

Half Time:  Linlithgow Academy 1st XV  10 - 5  North Berwick High School 2nd XV

Linlithgow restarted the match and won the ball going forward attacking the North Berwick defence passing the ball between hands.  The North Berwick team defended well, stopping the Linlithgow team 5 yards short of the try line several times.  Despite some good scrumaging and  rucking Linlithgow could not get the final phase to enable them to score. Due to the pressure one of the north Berwick players conceded a penalty, which again Stuart Kelly was able to covert.

North Berwick kicked off and immediately won the ball and took it to Linlithgow.  A scrum was awarded in front of the posts to North Berwick, which Linlithgow and then cleared their lines.  After a Linlithgow attack, North Berwick regained possession and took the game to Linlithgow.  Linlithgow were again forced to defend near their own line with an attacking scrum to North Berwick 5 yards from the Linlithgow try line. Again Linlithgow put in a superb effort and won the ball, but in attempting to clear their lines they knock on and then concede a penalty.  North Berwick elect to kick, but fail to convert.  Both teams continued to play open rugby.  North Berwick desperately try to apply pressure on the Linlithgow pack, but they hold firm eventually winning the ball and moving it back up into the North Berwick Half.  The referee then blew up for full time.

After a long period without any matches this was an entertaining game involving two evenly matched teams. A good team performance with all the players giving everything right up to the final whistle. I am sure that the coaches and Captain Scott Herdman will be pleased with their team performance. This win will give them something to build on for next week’s match and the Plate game on 15th.

Team:- I. Campbell, S. Kelly, I. Loggie, R. Murdoch, R. Plenderleith, D. Silk, J Chapman. C. Black,  S. Herdman, L. Hewitt, R. Laing,  F. Richardson, D. Robb,, C. Thomson,  A. Wood

 

Main sponsor: Dunne Group Ltd