Linlithgow  10 – 38  Falkirk

Saturday 01 November 2025
(National League Cup, Round 1)

Report by David Mitchell with photos from Graham Black

Mains Park was the setting for this National League Cup fixture against near neighbours Falkirk. This competition is a straight knock out format involving teams from National League Divisions 2,3 and 4. Falkirk are sitting mid table in Division 2 whereas the Reds are operating in Division 4, so the home side were facing a tough encounter against top opposition.

The pitch looked in good condition despite the earlier rainfall and both teams put in solid efforts to produce an enjoyable and competitive game. The Reds were without key performers Oscar Davies and Ruaridh Stewart, but still troubled the opposition for large parts of the match showing the depth of squad available to the coaching staff. A healthy crowd, including a sizeable number from Falkirk, greeted both teams for an early 1.30pm kick off.

Falkirk dominated the early exchanges, and their hard, direct running was very effective in allowing them to create some early scores. The visitors crossed for 3 tries and added a single conversion to produce an early 0-17 scoreline. Despite some cracking tackles from the likes of Kyle Ormond, Lewis McGill and Archie Rusack in particular, the Falkirk machine looked likely to add to their score. However, the home side responded well to being behind and produced a fine try to cut into the Falkirk lead. Jack Frame spotted some space on the right wing and kick passed to Luke O’Hara who caught the ball and worked wonders to remain in play before sprinting fully 70 metres to score a try. Jack Frame’s conversion attempt hit the top of the post and bounced out making the score 5-17.

Luke O’Hara en route to his first try

The Reds quickly added a 2^nd try after a very solid scrum from the home pack. Number 8 Kieran Cochrane did a neat pick up from the base and slipped the ball to Archie Rusack who broke wide of the Falkirk back row and created a 2 to 1 overlap for Luke O’Hara to power his way through the remains of the defence and stretch out a long arm to touch the ball down for a try that was not converted.

Luke O’Hara stretches out for his second try

With the score at 10-17, the Reds had their tails up and were looking to level the scores as half time approached. Jack Frame kicked from his own half to create a 50/22 giving the home side the advantage of the throw-in at the line-out. However, despite winning clean ball for Archie Rusack to set the back line running, a midfield move broke down following a rapid hit in midfield by a Falkirk centre which dislodged the ball. The Falkirk player was quickest to react and kicked the ball towards the Linlithgow half where, despite Ewan Curran tidying up, the visitors regained possession and scored a converted try to make the half time score 10-24.

This score changed the momentum and had a definite effect on the rest of the game. Falkirk may well still have won the tie but if the Reds had made it 17-17 at half time then who knows what the outcome could have been.

In the National League Cup competition teams are allowed 7 replacements and Reds made 3 at the break and regularly thereafter throughout the 2^nd half. All 7 replacements are potential starters each week showing the strength in depth around the 1^st XV squad this season.

Second half action with Slim (Andrew Graham) driving forward

The 2^nd half started well for the home side with fully 15 minutes of continual pressure and being camped in the Falkirk half but unfortunately not able to make a scoring breakthrough. Despite trying a variety of attacking ploys, the Reds could not breach the visitors’ line.

Alfie Muir is scragged to stop another Reds attack

The Division 2 team then showed how it should be done when they exploited the numerical advantage after a yellow card being shown to Eioan Magee. In the 10 minute absence of the 2^nd row replacement, Falkirk scored 2 converted tries to take the game beyond the reach of the hosts. 

Despite the game situation, the Reds continued to try and play the expansive brand of rugby that has been on show all season and they battled manfully until the end.

Final score: Linlithgow Reds 10 – 38 Falkirk Rugby Club

Reds Team

Front row: Calum McKeown, Kyle Ormond, Andrew Graham
Second row: Lewis McGill, Fraser Mochrie (captain)
Back row: Euan Mochrie, Jamie Tulloch, Kieran Cochrane

Half-backs: Archie Rusack, Jack Frame
Centres: Alfie Muir, Murray Johnstone
Back three: Ewan Curran, Luke O’Hara, Ross Tulloch

Subs (all played): 
Aiden Mochrie, Danny Park, Eioan Magee, Colin Devlin, Stuart Cunningham, Freddie Adcock, Cammie Murrie

Jack Frame chalked up his 150th match for the Reds

Comment

A brave performance from the Reds against a solid Falkirk outfit. The number 6 of Falkirk was the outstanding player on show with strong direct running and excellent work at the breakdowns regularly on show. The Reds did have opportunities to score but just could not make the final pass on a few occasions and at times were guilty of running across the field rather than adding some more direct approaches to their moves. 

There was not much to choose between the skill levels of the teams but the Division 2 side just had the edge in power especially in loose play.

The scrums were well contested with the lighter Linlithgow pack holding their own easily on the day. Luke O’Hara took his tally to 7 tries in 8 games this season and looked on form from the start including his work chasing the high ball following restarts.

There is no 1^st XV game next weekend (8^th/9^th) and the Reds next travel is to Kilmarnock on Saturday 15^th November as they return to league business with a 2pm kick off.