Linlithgow  29 – 24  Watsons College ‘B’

Saturday 16 March 2024

Report by Graeme Miller

On Saturday morning the Reds U18’s took on Watson’s B in the East Cup semi-final on Upper Mains Park. Back in early November, Linlithgow travelled through to Myreside and were narrowly beat 22-18 so payback was on everyone’s mind!

The home side started well with some great interlinking phase play and Jack, our centre crossed the try line twice, firstly, on 6 minutes and then after 12. Fraser our full back converting both. However, Watson’s replied soon after with a try for themselves through some great forward plays. 14-5 it stayed until we broke from our own half and wing forward Alex stepped numerous Watson’s boys before being brought down a metre from their line. A fantastic pop up to No. 8 Lewis, who gathered the pass to cross the line to make the score 19-5. The end-to-end play continued with both sides battling well and the Watson’s boys managed another a try before half time making the score at the break 19-10.

With it all still to play for, both sides knew a good start was critical and the visitors struck after just 3 minutes. A try and their first conversion. 19-17 and everyone was getting nervous even to the extent of the referee having to stop play and calm things down for both sides after, what can only be described as a dump tackle on our own full back.

With order restored, another great run through the middle of play, gave our centre Jack his third try and 24-17 the score stood until the last 8 minutes. The Watson’s boys were certainly not going to give up a semi-final easily and they scored a great linking try almost under our posts which they duly converted to make the last part of the game, 24-24.

From the restart, the home side pressured the visitors into handling errors and we gained possession and pushed deep into their half. Some heavy tackles and great interplay between both our forwards and backs resulted in scrum half Oogie reaching for the line and the try was given. The resulting conversion was missed and 29-24 play restarted, the Linlithgow boys gathered and stand off Alfie booted the ball onto the road and it was all over. The road to Murrayfield and the final now awaits us next week.

Well done to the entire squad who were under huge pressure at times but stayed composed and scrapped a win from a determined but ultimately disappointed Watson’s team.

The Reds U18s will play against Currie U18s in the East Cup Final at the Hive Stadium (British Gas Murrayfield) on Saturday 23rd March at 10am.