Linlithgow u14s  26-36  Edinburgh Academy u14s

Saturday 15th November

Report by Pablo Britos

The Young Reds hosted Edinburgh Academy on a cold and bright morning at the LMP. Luckily storm “Claudia” gave the Central Belt a respite and the game could go ahead.

It is safe to say that the Young Reds started off like a storm suffocating the opposition, asserting their physicality and forcing EA into playing into their own 22. A great break from Scott put the Reds into the opposition 22, followed up by carries from Lucas and Logan which pushed the Reds even closer until Callum picked the ball at the back of a ruck and scored the first try. 

The Young Reds continued to play with high intensity – Jay, Struan and Callum leading a rush defence prevented any clean exit from EA. It was Struan’s turn to make several meters at the exit of a line out, Lucas gained a few more yards and it was Jay who powered through EA’s defence to score a well deserved second try.

The Reds continued to play in the opposition half, with good linking play by Archie, Rory and Max moving the ball across the width of the pitch to find Callum who was finally stopped 5 metres from the line. Still a high defence line and good tackles by Nathan and Ruairi kept EA in their own 22 forcing them to kick. It was refreshing to see the backs put a few phases after a carry – something they had been working on – and, by inches, the last ball couldn’t find Nathan just when he was ready to score.

The first time EA was up the pitch after a line out, it was their turn to play ball in hand. Despite a good tackle by Logan, they managed to recycle the ball to the opposite flank to score their first try.  It felt short changed after all our domination up ’til now to only be up by 5 points. (12-7)

As the first 3rd was coming to an end, it was the Reds on  defending duties in their own 22 with tackles by Callum, Rory, Nathan, Archie, and Logan. After a dominant tackle by Lucas, one of the EA players had to leave the field making it a 14-a-side match, but unfortunately the extra room played into EA’s hands.

At the start of the second 3rd, the game was played between the 10m lines. EA tried to carry through the middle but was well met by the Reds’ forwards. After a few phases, EA was stopped 5m short of the try-line, and from the ruck their scrum-half picked up the ball and scored to make the game 12 all.

Clearly, the match was more even now and the Reds’ forwards continued to carry but also put a few phases by Max, Rory and Jay forcing a penalty. From the line out, Blair found Callum who barged through five opposition players. Max sliced his kick to make it 19-12.

The Reds came close again after a good transition play. From a turnover ball, Rory and Callum ran through the middle to find Jay who stepped three defenders before being brought down. EA’s tactic, when in its own half, was to run three phases, kick long and fight for the scraps and in position move the ball coast to coast to find a man over. On this occasion, despite saving tackles by Jay and Nathan, their scrum-half again scored from the back of a ruck. Very clinical play from EA, with lots of points from every 22 entry. The second 3rd finished 19 all. 

At the restart of the final 3rd, EA again kicked deep into the Reds’ half and got the bounce of the ball, forcing Linlithgow to defend with lots of players on their left flank. Cleverly, EA played more phases looking for the extra man and not even a dominant tackle by Callum could prevent the try. (19-26)

Now on the up, EA were finding more space and making good progress forcing the Reds to dig deep in defence and to their credit they managed to turn the ball twice. By now Archie, Lucas, Jay, Logan, Struan, Callum, Nathan and Ruairi had put numerous tackles in defence well-supported by Scott, Fin, Tom, Finlay and Bailey whilst Rory, Max and Joe managed to go over the ball to gain turnovers.

The Reds regained momentum, Blair fed Scott who once again found a line from his own half to gain 40 yards combining with Archie and Struan, but unfortunately EA beat the Reds to the ruck. From their penalty kick and line-out, EA’s effort to break through the middle was well met by Lucas and Callum, however they recycled the ball and found support on the right flank. Joe made a great tackle but they had numbers and the off load found one of the EA players and he scored. (19-31)

It was evident the Reds intensity was decreasing but not their spirits. Jay found Callum and scored a fantastic solo try from his own half and the conversion made it 26-31.

Being one try behind, the Reds gave their all but unfortunately they overcommitted to a ruck. Credit to EA who used their expansive game to move the ball quickly to one their centres who found a good line; Jay brought him down 5m away, unfortunately the offload went to hand and one of the support players made the final score. 26-38.

The Reds had half a chance to finish within a score but clearly it was not meant to be.

As usual, lots of positives from the game – the whole team showed plenty of grit and determination against a well-drilled team. The high intensity of the first 20 mins plus the intention to play a more expansive game didn’t reward the Reds with all the points that they deserved but surely those points will come. 

Jay was a well-deserving man of the match, playing with his usual tenacity and tempo in attack but also tackling anything in his proximity.