Wee Reds p7s at Stewarts Melville Lions
Sunday 8th November 2026
Report by Gordon White
Our P7s put on a fantastic performance on Sunday at the Stewart’s Melville tournament, in what was a real test against some top-quality opposition.
With squad numbers restricted to just 14, selection was incredibly difficult for the coaches, with so many boys desperate to play. For the players not selected, they enjoyed an early morning training session on the top pitch at the club, giving them a chance to work on specific skills. Well done to those boys who attended for getting out of bed so early.
Those selected to travel to Stew Mel really stepped up, facing two of the country’s top rugby schools in Stewart’s Melville and Edinburgh Accies. Every game was physical and competitive, with the opposition tackling hard and running straight. Linlithgow matched that intensity throughout, producing some excellent rugby and showing plenty of determination.
After a focused warm up, our first game was against the hosts ‘A’ team. Linlithgow came through winning 3 – 1, with 2 important long range tries from Gregor. It was our defence that won this game for us, with our usual big hitters Ferris, Rory, Harry and Keelan really stepping forward.
Our second game saw us take on Stewart’s Melville’s ‘B’s . The final score was 3 – 1 to them, with some of their big runners proving difficult to bring down. A key feature of this game, was how well both teams moved the ball wide into space. Rory, Zac, Luca and Olly used their excellent handling skills to shift the ball quickly.
The final game was a cracker, against Edinburgh Accies. It was very close game. With a couple of minutes to go, Linlithgow were pushing for the score that would have drawn the match, with Julen, Angus, Patrick and Knox all running hard but just not getting over the line. Unfortunately, a wee knock on, resulted in Accies breaking away for a last-minute try at the other end, making the final score: Edinburgh Accies 4 – Linlithgow 2. This game featured a superb individual try from Nate, our rapid winger, who sprinted down the touchline avoiding all the attempted tacklers.
A big shout out to Finlay, who was everywhere around the park during all 3 games, in amongst the action like a real back row flanker. A brilliant effort from all the boys and a hugely valuable experience against excellent opposition. There were a few sore bodies on Monday morning, but the Reds can be very proud of their performance!
