Linlithgow Reds U18s lined up for their postponed conference game v Peebles B on a damp and blustery Lower Mains Park on Thursday evening. A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered in the hopes of seeing an exciting match and a Reds victory. They got one of them. 

Peebles suffered some late call-offs but gamely travelled with 13 and, forfeiting the points, were glad to receive Linlithgow subs to make up the numbers and allow maximum game-time all round. A special nod to Murray, Ryan, Logan and Kyran who each took a half in opposition colours and showed great spirit by playing full-throttle against their usual team-mates. 

With the game effectively relegated to ‘friendly’ status, there was a worry that the intensity would dissipate; however, while the Reds perhaps started with a less than furious kick-chase, Peebles’ immediate physicality carrying into contact showed that they had come to play, no matter the status of the points. 

It was the visitors who had the best of the early exchanges, working steadily up the pitch and testing their hosts’ discipline, which was to be a theme of the night. 

Peebles could not turn pressure into points and a series of forced and unforced errors allowed the home team to repel all their efforts. And it was the hosts who notched the first points of the contest, showing the cutting edge that their visitors couldn’t quite muster. Ruairi caught the Peebles’ stand-in full-back out of position and kicked through from his own half, trusting the pacey Linlithgow back line to win the race, which Rory duly did, showing skill and composure to go with his raw speed by deftly kicking ahead and showing dribbling skills to rival a young Billy Bremner (you might have to Google that, boys) to kick the ball over the line and drop on it for the opening try of the game. 

It seemed for a few minutes as if the floodgates might open, with smart footwork and strong running creating a number of line-breaks for the Reds U18, but a combination of greasy conditions, sketchy discipline and a few decisions to run it in instead of using teammates confounded each promising attack. On the other side of the ball, Linlithgow looked very strong defensively, shutting down the Peebles attack and preventing them from getting the ball into the wide channels.  Greasy conditions, invasive officiating and a determined but not dynamic opposition all contributed to a stodgy match. 

The next score came on 24 minutes, after a period of pressure in the Peebles 22, running a strike move off the scrum, Ruairi popped the ball to full-back Caiden, who made good yards before offloading to Euan Johnson who used a combination of dexterity and brawn to burst over from 10 yards. 

The next score arrived soon afterwards, as Peebles attacked the blind side from their own scrum around half-way and were turned over by a superb counter-ruck. Slick hands through the midfield put the ball into space and Linlithgow were knocking on the door of the Peebles try-line once again. Multiple phases of stern goal-line defence from the visitors ended in a 5m penalty, from which Cameron charged over and did well to wriggle the ball to ground amid heavy traffic for the try. 

This was Linlithgow’s most dominant period of the half and the next try came moments later as Ethan S, running brilliant support lines all night, received the ball in space and galloped away to score. 

Any sense from the home crowd that this was going to be an exhibition match was soon put on ice as Peebles intercepted a long pass, ran the length of the pitch (brilliantly chased all the way back by Rory and Alfie) to almost score then, a few phases later, did score the try that their endeavours deserved. Half time 24-5. 

With a quick shirt swap between loan players, the second half was underway and with a bit more intent than the first. Peebles, emboldened by taking the last try of the first half, snatched the opening score of the second and at 24-12 it was suddenly game on. 

Nerves were settled with the next score, with a great break down the blind side and some excellent close-quarter passing at pace putting Reece over in the corner. Alfie was next on the score sheet, cutting a great line to come on to the ball at pace and go over from close range.

There was barely time to recover the ball from the conversion attempt before the next Linlithgow try. This one was a bit special, as Reece caught the ball from kick off and scythed his way through the whole Peebles team to score without anyone else touching the ball. 

The floodgates were beginning to open now, and Peebles did well to rally and gain a period of possession of their own. It was once again Linlithgow who scored next, this time a great finish from Jack M, who followed up very quickly for his second double in 2 games, this one chasing his own kick and kicking on to score.  Between Jack and Rory, we were treated to a couple of terrific footballing tries, in the most unlikely conditions for such feats. 

Peebles then had a tremendous period of pressure, hammering away at the home line. Linlithgow showed character and determination not to allow a try – albeit conceding a lot of penalties – and eventually won the turnover through shrewd and strong defence from Calum, who held his man up to create a maul from which Linlithgow won the scrum. Having been catalyst for the possession, Calum was on the end of a great breakout move and was inches away from scoring in the last act of the game, being adjudged to have rolled once too often to get over the line having been tripped just short. 

It’s possible that, through the magic of the written word, I have I injected a bit more energy and excitement into what was, in large parts, a frustratingly stop-start affair than those who were present would strictly recognise. In mitigation (that popular rugby phrase du jour) I can only say that, had I written it all as I saw it, you’d have dozed off by about page nine. 

Taking the positives, it was a convincing win against Conference opposition, there was some really good work in defence that’s easy to overlook when writing up the highlights (for instance Jake and Jacob were both superb in tackling, winning turnovers and indeed creating some continuity and link-up in our attack) and the determination and desire to defend your line at close quarters for a long period when you’re 6 or 7 tries up is incredibly impressive and speaks volumes for the team spirit that the Reds U18 are developing. 

Onwards and upwards, with a short October break before we return to Cup and Conference business.