Lenzie  28 – 46  Linlithgow

Saturday 24 February 2024

Report by Nick Drainey

It wasn’t quite a mud bath at Lenzie on Saturday morning but hippos would have been moderately happy with the conditions. The overhead conditions, however, were bright and clear and after an extremely “switched on” training session earlier in the week the Reds were ready from some action after the Easter break.

It didn’t take long for the Young Red S2s to show some game awareness when a couple of pods led to Jack passing out to fellow forward Finlay, before the ball made it all the way to Charlie on the wing, who’s pace took him to the line and under the posts. A Fergus conversion added to the early lead (0-7).

Counter rucking and clean jackalling were a feature of the day and it soon paid off with Archie receiving a pass out and feeding it to James who went over in the corner (0-12). It was then Callum’s turn after he started a move with an offload to set Euan down the wing. Callum was there in support at the ruck to take the ball and score the team’s third try in what had been a blistering start (0-17). Blair then burst through at half way to go under the posts before Fergus slotted over the conversion (0-24).

Callum began yet another move upfield with a jackal which allowed Archie to break upfield. Eric nearly got in under the posts but support showed its worth again as Callum took the ball over. (0-29). Lenzie did squeeze over on the stroke of half time but Linlithgow were well in the ascendancy as the whistle went for the break (7-29)

The second half started in a similar vein when Eric broke to let Charlie power down the wing and add another try (7-34). Archie then gladly followed up on a good run by Marshall to go under the posts before converting his own score (7-41). The forwards again showed good game awareness and spun the ball out to the backs where Ethan S took his chance well to take the ball from the 22 to the line to secure his first try in youth rugby – cue the biggest cheer of the day (7-46).

Stalwart chasing and tackling from Charlie and Callum could not stop a try by Lenzie. (14-46) and things began to get slightly nervous as another two followed before the final whistle (28-46). A good day out in Lenzie was enjoyed by all and the things identified by the coaches to work on were simply about burnishing what is becoming a very cohesive team.

SQUAD: Ali, Archie, Blair, Callum, Charlie, Eric (co-capt), Ethan Mc, Ethan S, Euan, Fergus, Finlay, Jack, James (co-capt), Jamie, Jason, Louis, Marshall, Matthew, Rory, Zac N, Zack W