Stuart Ritchie updates us on the two recent matches played by the Reds u18s.
Reds u18s with 7-try bonanza to book National Plate Progress
Linlithgow u18 49 – 21 St Aloysius u18
Wednesday 28 October 2026
Linlithgow powered their way into the next round of the National Plate on Wednesday afternoon with a seven-try performance that combined brute force, blistering pace, sharp defence and, at times, a refreshing disregard for the concept of keeping things simple.
On a day when scoring opportunities were treated with all the restraint of children in a sweet shop, Linlithgow crossed the whitewash seven times to eventually pull clear of a spirited St Aloysius side.
The visitors arrived with clear intentions of winning and, to their credit, refused to go quietly. Linlithgow raced into a 28-0 half time lead and scored again quickly after the second half kick-off. However, 2 quick St Aloysius’ scores, and a few decisions against us ruffled our feathers and discipline dropped. Unfortunately for St Aloysius, the Reds regained their composure and every time they looked like building momentum, Linlithgow seemed to respond by sending someone charging over the try line.
The chief tormentor was Cammy, who helped himself to a hat-trick. The supporting cast played their part too. Callum R, Angus T, Finlay A and Alfie all got on the scoresheet as Linlithgow kept the scoreboard operator fully occupied throughout the afternoon. There was sharp shooting from the kickers with Joe and Max converting all the scores.
Up front, the Linlithgow pack laid the platform with a relentless effort at the breakdown and strong running in the loose. The backs then took the invitation to find space and attack with enthusiasm.
By the final whistle, the 49-21 scoreline reflected Linlithgow’s clinical finishing and attacking ambition. St Aloysius deserve considerable credit for contributing to an entertaining cup tie and a spirited fightback, but this was ultimately Linlithgow’s day.
The National Plate dream remains alive, the try tally continues to grow, and somewhere the coaching staff are still reminding everyone that there are still “areas to work on.”
For now, however, Linlithgow can savour a convincing victory, seven tries, and a place in the next round and a guaranteed semifinal in either the plate or bowl competitions. This was a great squad performance with Angus T putting in a man-of the match performance, tormenting the opponents with his hard-hitting tackling and strong direct running.
Not a bad afternoon’s work. Bring on Fettes at home in the next round!
Howe Edge Physical Battle as Reds u18s Come Up Short
Linlithgow u18s 24 – 31 Howe of Fife / Bell Baxter u18s
Saturday 31 October 2026
There are defeats that sting because you weren’t good enough, and there are defeats that leave you wondering what might have been with a little more energy (and sleep!) in the tank. This one was firmly in the latter category as Linlithgow’s u18s fell 31-24 to a powerful Howe of Fife / Bell Baxter side in a bruising encounter.
With Halloween festivities still fresh in the memory and perhaps a few too many sweets, scares and late nights lingering in some tired legs, Linlithgow faced a Howe outfit that looked as though they had spent the previous evening doing hill sprints and deadlifts for fun.
From the outset, the visitors brought plenty of size, power and physicality to the contest. Every collision rattled the sidelines, every carry demanded a committed tackle, and every inch of ground was fiercely contested. Linlithgow responded admirably, refusing to take a backward step despite conceding a considerable advantage in raw horsepower, but the reality was that we were relying on scraps to get out points on the board.
The Reds did take their chances, racing into a 12-0 lead with 2 breakaway tries from Ewan and Joe, but Howe responded quickly and looked to match the try tally before halftime. Only a frenetic few minutes of ferocious and fearless Reds tackling kept them out.
Unfortunately, as the game wore on, the effort of matching such a physically imposing side began to tell. Howe’s greater strength, speed of play and fitness allowed them to maintain pressure and they scored 4 unanswered tries. Credit must go to the visitors, whose forwards not only possessed the muscle but also the rugby intelligence to use it wisely, picking the right moments to attack and ultimately outwitting a tiring home side.
Even so, Linlithgow hung in. We continued to fight and scored 2 quick tries through Callum D and Ewan, keeping the contest alive right until the final whistle and ensuring the visitors knew they had been in a game. We thought we would have the final restart to mount one last attack to look to tie the game. Max and Joe slotted over a conversion each
Shout outs to Conor for work rate, Ewan for overall athleticism and Arran for tough tackling in the last line of defence. Angus C was today’s man of the match with some tough tackling and hard running in attack.
On another day, perhaps one with a little less Halloween hangover and a little more fuel in the legs, the outcome might have been different. We will look forward to the hopeful rematch in a few weeks. We can reflect on our work rate, support running, speed of attack, attacking options and line-out strategy for that game.
We now turn our attention to the next challenge, our final conference fixture at St Leonards Madras Blues, and a trip to sunny St Andrews.
