Cracking Draw a Fair Result at North Berwick
North Berwick HS S2 8 - 8 Linlithgow S2
Scoop Wilson's fingers "danced on the keyboard" to bring us this match report from North Berwick:
After a long lay-off, the S2 Reds returned to action on a sunny and bright morning in the shadow of Berwick Law against a strong Berwick High team.
The game started briskly, with both teams trying to run the ball, testing each others defences. Drives from the N. Berwick forwards were well dealt with by an eager and hard-tackling Linlithgow. The first score came after around ten minutes when some quick thinking from Ross, sprinting down the line, offloaded to Ryan, who made a strong run through the NB defence and passed to Lewis who burst over the whitewash to score under the posts. The try was well converted by Fraser.
From the re-start, NB came back strongly and drove to the Reds line, resulting in two penalties to the opposition. However, the defence held firm and James drove, with the help of the forwards and threw a pass to Ross, who was driven into touch.
One feature of the game which made for good entertainment was the committment shown by both teams in the scrummaging and rucking battle. As a result, there were quite a few turnovers and a lot of broken play, and the Reds needed to be alert to the NB attacks. NB came back minutes later when a penalty move near the line was offloaded quickly to one of the opposition forwards who dived over to score. This again, was converted.
Half-time score: North Berwick 4 Linlithgow 4
The second half was played in a similar spirit, with both teams trying to take the ball to the wings on a very narrow pitch. Most of the breaks therefore, tended to come from penalty moves or through forward mauls. The game then entered an untidy phase, with knocks-on and many penalties given away on both sides.
Another penalty led to NB's next score, again taken quickly, shipped out to the wing and the NB backs finished off the move with a try in the left corner, which was converted.
Linlithgow did not lose heart, however. In fact this second try seemed to sting them into action, and they immediately responded with a try of their own.
A move down the left was continued by Lewis, taking the ball into the NB 22. A subsequent drive allowed James to break and dive over the line. This was converted by John.
Some enterprising play was shown by Linlithgow during the game, showing that they had not lost their appetite during the long lay-off. In particular John, showing a lovely side-step and Callum M and Lewis with their usual surging runs. Some excellent tackling and straight running by Ross and man of the match Connor made life very difficult for North Berwick, and the game finished level which was, all things considered, perhaps a fair result in a well-contested encounter.
Final score North Berwick 8 Linlithgow 8
Team: Fraser S, Tom W, Ross, John, Robbie, James, Ben,Connor, Sam, Ryan, Callum, Callum M, Ali, Jay, Rhuaridh, Lewis (capt.), Duncan,Chris.
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