Good Win to Bring in the New Year

Linlithgow 21  RHC 10

Match report courtesy of Dave Thomas, with photos courtesy of Paul Birrell and Alison Timlin.

After a solemn minute’s silence when everybody remembered Bill McLaren the game kicked off and immediately the Reds pack swung into action taking the ball well into enemy territory.  RHC responded well and their backs returned to the middle of the field and there the ball stayed for five minutes until the Red backs went from one side of the pitch to the other eventually sending winger Andy Birrell over for a try near the left corner.  

Prop Kevin Clydesdale went off injured and John Pauley, who had been promised ‘ten minutes at the end’ saw the funny side and was grinning as he came on.  The next thirty minutes were evidence of both sides lack of play the highlights being a penalty by Mark Dixon, a header by the RHC winger where everybody lost the ball and a narrow miss by Dixon at a penalty attempt just before the whistle.  8 – 0 up for the Reds.

The visitors started the second half with a much more spirited attack and their forwards took the ball deep into Red territory, winning a couple of scrums in the process.  They camped near the line and their big No 8, Kelly, picked up from the base of a scrum and powered over for a good try, converted by Watters.  Ten minutes later the same lad stroked over a penalty to take the visitors into a narrow 8 – 10 lead and this seemed to waken up the Reds. 

With the more experienced scrummager, Steve Dobie, in at hooker, the pack started to win ball and Matt Dixon, taking over kicking duties, retook the lead with a penalty in the 11th minute.  The Reds concentration was much, much better, and some good long passing from Dave Woods at the base of the scrum allowed Mark Dixon to send some pin-point passes out to the centres.  Mark Green took one such pass and set off at a cutting angle, evading the defence to score a great try from thirty yards out, Matt adding the conversion. 

RHC really had run out of steam by then and the game was all over when Matt sealed the game with his second penalty five minutes from the end.  This was a good win and keeps the Reds in fourth place in the league. 

Linlithgow:  Matt Dixon[c]; Andy Birrell, Tim Meadows, Mark Green, Mikey Walker; Mark Dixon, Dave Woods; Johnny Cavana, Stuart Cunningham, Kevin Clydesdale; Stuart Jamieson, Stuart Bell; Ben Clark, Euan Richardson, Ross Martin.

Subs:  Steven Dobie, John Pauley, Nicky Cowan. 

Mascot: Tom Gardner P4.

 

 

 

Main sponsor: Dunne Group Ltd