Semi Final:  Linlithgow 1 Gala 2

Playing the group winners from the other group was always going to be tough and especially as they where our hosts for the day. After a tough opening we fell a score down but from the restart after several good phases of play Ben roared in for a try beating several defenders on his way to the line. We gained real confidence from this and we laid siege to the Gala line with Harry in particular going close on a couple of occasions. Our forwards dominated and Gala found it hard to make yards up the pitch but we could not manage the break through score. The last move of the game saw Gala cross for the winning try in a repeat of what Nathan did to Gala when we played the Linlithgow tournament.

Great effort from all the guys.                

Sunday 24th January:  Away at Biggar
Ian Brocklebank reports:

Despite playing in the falling snow and sodden muddy conditions, the P6's looked hungry for rugby having not played for weeks due to the weather.

Quarter 1: Linlithgow Reds P6 0 - Biggar 3

Biggar, used to the conditions, started quickly driving in the mud, stretching the Reds defence and dashing through a gap to score early. The Reds maintained possession well with good driving and rucking from Fraser, James, Mick and Nathan, gaining ground and getting into good position, however Biggar capitalised on a loose ball and ran the length to score against the run of play. Again the Reds asserted themselves with good interplay between Ross, Finlay, Fraser and Kieran. Despite rucking hard and moving the ball well, Linlithgow were again unlucky when Biggar grabbed a loose ball and ran down the wing to score their third. The Reds were unlucky not to score from darting runs from Gregor McA and a driving break from Ross. A good performance in the conditions, showing good skills with all players getting involved.

Quarter 2: Linlithgow Reds P6 1 - Biggar 2

Again Biggar started well, Sam putting his body on the line to protect a loose ball and disrupt a Biggar break. Kieran followed this up with a solid touch line tackle, and Nathan and Mick crunched the Biggar wing into touch. Eventually the Biggar pressure told, capitalising on a loose ball to score, however the Reds didn't lie down, Fraser and Kieran working well together down the line, were unlucky not to score. Again Biggar broke through space and and ran the length to score. The Reds worked hard to fight back, Fraser especially breaking into space to make ground, James supported well and drove over for a well deserved score.

Quarter 3: Linlithgow Reds P6 0 - Biggar 4

Despite good rucking and driving forward by Mick and James, Biggar broke into space to score four times early in the quarter. However the Reds got into their stride, moving the ball well and stretching the Biggar defence in a stunning move involving Ross, Mick, Nathan, Sam, Fraser, Andrew, Kieran, back to Mick and Kieran, Gregor and then Nathan unlucky not to score as he raced through the gap, only for the pass to be unluckily declared forward - but great play exactly what the coaching team want from the Reds, good movement looking for the gaps.

Quarter 4: Linlithgow Reds P6 1 - Biggar 1

The Reds were now playing strongly, James driving and rucking hard, Kieran and Andrew passing well. Mick nearly gave the Reds the lead and a break into space by Kieran, supporting and spinning over - but the ball was knocked loose as he went over the line. Then Gregor McA run strongly down the wing to be tackled short. Biggar at this stage were resorting to kicking the ball out of defence in an attempt to releve the pressure, but the Reds took the ball back towards the Biggar line each time. Eventually Biggar relieved the pressure not by a kick but breaking into space in the defensive line to break the length of the field to score. Solid scrummaging allowed Nathan to break from the base of the scrum, and Mick supported to go over.

All in all, a great performance from the Reds in difficult conditions.

Sunday 8th November:  Home Matches
Ian Brocklebank reports...

A great turn-out from the P6's allowed Anthony, Neil and Cal to field two teams for the home fixture against Stirling County and Perth.

Linlithgow P6 "Blacks" 0: Stirling County A 7
A relatively inexperienced Linlithgow team supplimented by a couple of the more experienced P6's found Stirling County keen to go for their first game.  Despite hard work from Mick, Ross and Gregor in defence County exploited gaps to run in 4 tries in the first half. As the second half progressed The Blacks started to gain confidence with Ewan and Sam starting to get involved and supporting and moving the ball, and Oliver working well with Mick in the ruck to clear the lines. Finlay made a number of darting runs and was unluckly not to break through.  Overall a tough starting game for the Blacks but one in which they showed there was more to come from them.

Linlithgow P6 "Reds" 1: Stirling County B 1
The Reds started strongly with good passing and movement, driving forward strongly and supporting well. A strong run down the wing from David nearly brought the first score, but he was brought down just short. Fraser and James rucked well to set the ball and the backs quickly moved it along the line to Gregor S on the wing who sprinted clear to score. County pushed hard but a great tackle into touch from Jim prevented them scoring just before the break.  The Reds continued to tackle well in the second half, Nathan, Jim and Kieran all putting themselves around, but the County prerssure finally told with an equaliser. The Reds were unlucky not to come out on top, good movement of the ball along the line created space but the ball was knocked on in the final pass.  An excellent all round performance from some of the more experienced lads.

Linlithgow P6 "Blacks" 2: Perth 7
The Blacks took heart from their first game performance and played with more confidence in their second game. Sam bravely took a number of hard tackles for the team, returning to support his team mates. Then Jamie B found his pace and sprinted strongly forward through a gap to get the Blacks first try of the day. Despite Perth extending their lead, Sam, Ewan, James and Oliver combined moving the ball out wide, and Gregor S sprinted down the line and was unlucky to be pushed into touch close to the line. James though rounded off the game with a strong solo effort drving forward and then spinning and diving over to score.  A great performance from the Blacks who gave a high level of effort through-out the game and saw some of the players starting to find their strengths.

Linlithgow P6 "Reds" 1: Stirling County A 1
County started strongly requiring try saving tackles from David, Mick and Jim, however the pressure eventually told. The Reds got themselves back into the game by rucking strongly and retaining the ball, Nathan and Ben running strongly. This set up a strong plaform from which David, Jim and Gregor S moved the ball quickly to Fraser who went over for the equiliser. The Reds maintained this play into the second half, notably David and james running hard and direct. Again quick movement along the line gave Gregor S the chance to shoot through the gap to score. Under pressure, the Reds cleared their lines with strong rucking to win back the ball and movement to clear it. County though took their chance when a ball was spilt and sprinted round the LInlithgow line to score in the corner despite a last gasp diving tackle by Gregor S. The game was now in the balance and the Reds were very unlucky when in the dying seconds County pounced on a loose ball to score the winner.  Another tight game that could have gone either way and saw the Reds perform excellently.

Linlithgow P6 "Blacks" 3: Stirling County B 10
The Blacks started well rucking hard and putting in a sterling effort. Despite Stirling taking the lead the Blacks started to move the ball along the line and this created space for Jamie B to dash down the line. Oliver, Finlay and Jamie then combined to create space for Gregor M to dash down the line. Ross worked hard to get posession and then drove forward, slipping the ball to David who shot round the defence to score. A tough 3 games for the Blacks, but they showed committment and promise and were cheered off the field.

Linlithgow P6 "Reds" 7: Perth 0
The Reds started strongly Kieran, Ross and Jim combining to create an opportunity for Gregor S to cut through the line to open the scoring. James and Kieran put in a thumping tackle to prevent a Perth repost. A quick pass from the base of the ruck by Jim set-up Ben to sprint over. This was followed by a strong forward run from Gregor S who offloaded for David to score. The half was rounded off by a long pass from Ben setting Gregor S on his way to jink his way over the line.  Good quick ball movement saw the Reds create further space in the second half. David running in the first score of the half. He got his secind of the half by supporting well. Jim did his bit to ensure that Perth didn't score, tackling strongly on the wing and Finlay ran the ball strongly out of defense. The game was rounded off by a strong scoring run from David, well supported by Ben, Fraser and Nathan.

Read Linlithgow Mini Tournament reports

Portobello Tournament:  Sunday 11th October

The Reds gathered on a sunny morning in the shade of Arthur's Seat for the Portobello Tournament.

Linlithgow Reds P6 3: Musselburgh P6 0
An inspirational pre-match warm up from Anthony, Robin, Neil and Cal, got the Reds into the right frame of mind and they came out of the blocks fast working hard from the off. The boys working hard in defence and creating pressure, caused Musselburgh to spill the ball. Then the front row of James, Fraser and Ross won a ball against the head and as the Reds showed their attacking abilities, the ball was passed along the line and Gregor S took a low ball and laid the ball off for Gregor M to sprint clear down the line to score. The Reds protected their lead well, keeping a good straight line in defence and again forcing the errors from the Musselburgh side who failed to make any headway. Ross and Fraser rucked hard and moved the ball forward. Linlithgow capitalised on a Musselburgh error spreading the ball wide and then passing and supporting to gain yards. Then James took the ball with pace on the burst and drove forward taking 2-3 players with him and stretched over to score. The Reds rounded off a great performance with their third try, Fraser moving forward and then laying the ball off to an eager Kieran supporting well to go over.

A fantastic performance, working hard to keep a clean sheet and using the ball well.

Linlithgow Reds P6 1: Portobello (Grp2) P6 0
The home team always prove a tough test in any tourament and Portobello were no surprise. Yet again the Reds proved to be the match of their opposition, starting well and creating space from the off with good passing and support for Nathan to go close. Porty fought back yet the Reds protected their line well tackling strongly (especially Jim) and rucking well to hold Porty back. When Portobello made an error, the front row (Mick, Ross and Fraser) worked hard to get the ball and backs moved the ball to allow Nathan, Ben, Kieran and Gregor M room to use their pace. The Reds pressure finally told with Gregor S sprinting through a gap following good ball moving skills along the line to win a tightly contested game.

Again a win that paid tribute to the Reds defence as much as their try scoring ability.  A well deserved win and a fantastic performance.

Linlithgow Reds P6 4: Broughton P6 0
Determined to maintain their clean sheet the Reds fought hard again from the off. Gregor S, Jim and Ben all working hard in defence. With the team rucking well, Mick stayed on his feet and moved the ball quickly to Ben, who moved smartly through the gap and laid the ball off to Jim to go over. The boys were now working hard as a team. Oliver picked the ball up in the loose and Sam took it on and ran forward strongly through the gap, then laid it off for Jim and finally Kieran to go over for the Reds second. Again good rucking with Mick and Jim staying on their feet and getting good low position set up the ball for Kieran to go over for his second of the game. The Reds rounded off the game with a good strike by the front row and then moving the ball along the line thorugh the hands of Gregor S and Findlay to allow Ben to jink his way down the line and reach over.

A well deserved semi-final place for the Reds who had done everything that the coaches could have asked.

Semi-final:- Linlithgow Reds P6 4: Portobello (Grp1) P6 0
The Reds met the group 1 Portobello team in the semi's, and showed the same grit and determination that won them the group 2 game against Porty, James bursting through the line and the ball moved out to Ben who flew the length of the field for the first score. Jim put in a try saving tackle to maintain the lead and the rest of the team helped out to build pressure on Portobello who struggled to break the Reds defensive line. The Reds then capitalised, Nathan making a break and Gregor S supporting then running and putting in a good step to get their second. Linlithgow where unlucky not to get a third after a good move along the line by Ross, Nathan and Gregor M. The Reds third came courtesy of a run down the line by Gregor S from a penalty tap. The penalty gained after applying great pressure to Portobello on their own line by Jim, Mick, Fraser and Ross. Even Anthony was smilling at this stage! Jim put in a number of fine tackles to protect the Reds lead and Ben rounded off the performance picking up a loose ball and going over (Fraser supported well even thought he was not needed).

Final:- Linlithgow Reds P6 0: Stewarts Meville P6 4
A tough final saw the Reds play a well-drilled Stewarts Melville team.  Linlithgow started well with both defences keeping the game tight in the middle of the field. Finally Stewarts Melville broke through a tackle and opened the scoring. The Reds worked hard with strong tackles from Jim and Kieron but the Stewarts Melville pressure eventually told scoring a second before half-time. The Reds started to struggle to move the ball around and couldn't make ground and the pressure told as Stewarts Melville picked up on a loose pass that went to ground and scored from the base of the ruck. Stewarts Melville made sure of the game scoring from a fast break from the scrum as the Reds tired slightly towards the end of the game.

The Reds were cheered off the field by both Coaches and Parents - Four clean sheets, well worked tries moving the ball along the line and strong rucking to protect and gain the ball - a performance of which the lads should be rightly proud.

West of Scotland Tournament

A tough ask for the P6 lads at West of Scotland as a squad of only 8 meant that no substitutions would be possible.

Linlithgow P6 "Reds"  1  GHK P6 5
The Reds took a while to get going allowing GHK to score three times in the first half. However Linlithgow started the second half strongly with good rucking from Jim, Mick and David and an excellent try saving tackle from Kieron. However a missed tackle allowed GHK to score against the run of play. The reds refused to give in, especially after Gregor S had to leave the field after an accidental clash of heads. Down to seven, the team fought back strongly and a good run from Gregor M round the outside allowed him to get a score back. Disappointingly after such a strong come back GHK finished with another score to finish the game 1:5. 

Linlithgow P6 "Reds"  3  Glasgow Accies P6 5
Accies, after offering to play 7-a-side to even numbers, started quickly bursting through at speed to kick off the scoring. However the reds fought back quickly, David driving strongly and then passing the ball along the line to Kieron who stepped inside and reached over to level. David and Jim worked hard in defence with low driving tackles, however and opportunist interception by Accies gave them a 1:2 half time lead.  Again Accies started fast scoring after a run from deep. However once again the Reds fought back Ben going close - only stopped by a last gasp tackle. Then Gregor M shot through the gap dashed over to pull one back. More excellent tackling from Jim, helped the team hold Accies at bay, but two missed tackles lead to two more scores, before Jim darted over the line for a consolation score after good interplay between David, Ben and Gregor M.

Linlithgow P6 "Reds"  0  West P6 12
A tough afternoon for the Reds concluded with back to back games, playing West straight after Accies. Accies kindly offered an extra player to allow the Reds to play equal numbers with West. A tired Reds team struggled to get going and tackling in general was disappointing. The rested West side ran in 12 tries despite hard work especially from Jim in defence.

Given the turn-out the tournament was always going to be difficult, but again the lads showed that if they pass along the line and tackle they can compete, but need to be more consistent and start quicker.