Youth Section – weekend roundup 2nd-3rd September

P4 

The P4s had their first full contact game of rugby on Sunday. Due to the increase in numbers following the summer break, we were able to field 2 teams against the visiting Falkirk side giving everyone lots of game time.  Both teams did amazingly well, and multiple tries were scored. The coaches were proud to see all the training we’ve been doing on tackle technique, running forward and passing being applied during the matches

P5

The sun came out for Falkirk P5’s visit to the Royal Borough today. Neither team showed any sign of rustiness after a well deserved summer break with some great tackling on both sides. Thanks to some excellent turnover scores, the Reds just shaded a really entertaining game. Linlithgow boasted one of their biggest ever squads (10 players!) and showed some really good team play throughout (despite some almighty confusion from the coaches who are unaccustomed to managing so many substitutes).

S1

S1 completed preseason with a trip to Lasswade for a round robin tournament.

First up was Lasswade. S1s started strong showing some great attacking flair and were too powerful for Lasswade over the 20 minute match scoring a number of fantastic team tries.

Next up was Royal High which was a tougher test for the boys. A tough first half being on the wrong side of a few decisions leading to them losing a few early tries. The boys regrouped at halftime and in the second half ran Royal High very close showing a lot more of the skills they have.

All in all a great day which sets the boys up well for their first conference game on Saturday away at Watson’s.

S2 

Weather conditions on Saturday morning were perfect for a pre-season round robin event at Lasswade with Royal High.

Our first match was against Lasswade who we have played a few times now and are a well organised team who are hard to break down. We had focused on the need for a strong start during pre-season training and clearly the players had listened with Blair crossing the line in the first few minutes of the game! Fergus converted. The new tackle laws haven’t really changed the way we have been playing within the AGLVs but have emphasised the importance of a strong offloading game, and a good offloading run between Callum and James was finished off with James scoring. Conceding 2 penalties in quick succession cost us as Lasswade returned with a strong offloading passage of play rewarded with a try. 12-5 at the break.

A feature of this game was our strong teamwork – another period of impressive offloading play in the second half was rewarded with Euan crossing the line. The heat then began to take a bit of a toll on our fitness and speed into the ruck dropped somewhat and Lasswade got back into the game with a jinky run and try in the corner. The Reds (or blacks as it was here) held out comfortably. Final score 17-10 to the Reds.

Our second game was against Royal High. The Reds had reflected on the need for a strong start again and had identified a couple of strong runners in the opposition and the need to prevent them building up speed. Again the Reds started strongly scoring pretty much from the kick as we turned over opposition ball and Euan finished off a mazy run.

We managed to turnover a lot of ball in this game (to our favour) and following another turnover from Callum there was great passing down the backs for James to finish. Turnovers followed again (including an excellent steal by Lyle) resulting in tries from Callum and then Jack, who burst through well. Great pressure from James in the opposition dead ball area led to Linlithgow having a 5m scrum and the positioning and running of the backs led to space allowing Fergus to cross over for a score.

The game started to become a bit disjointed with RHS picking up a few knocks from strong tackles) and also having the disadvantage of playing 2 games back to back in the heat.

The final try of the match followed some more great offloading between the forwards with Zac N fighting off 4 RHS players to score a try. A great kicking performance by Archie in this game saw him convert 5 out of 6 kicks. Final score 40-0 to Linlithgow.

The coaches were particularly pleased that many of the things that we have worked on in training paid off. Passing down the back line and speed to ruck were generally good. Restarts were much better. Playing in this heat highlights the importance of fitness. Increasing the game structure and need for positioning has been helpful for many of our players.

Special mention this weekend to Ethan, Jack, Rory, Zack W and Archie who the coaches felt had particularly good games.

Playing squad (all playing):

Ali, Archie, Blair, Callum, Eric, Ethan McN, Euan, Fergus, Jack, James, Jamie, Jason, Lyle, Marshall, Matthew, Rory, Zac N, Zack W.

S3

On Saturday we hosted Lasswade for our final warm-up match.  This was our last game before the season starts in earnest and we put aside any idea that a game of rugby can be a “friendly” and we get stuck into the conference.

Laswade arrived with a few less players than required for an official game of rugby which was slightly concerning, but they reassured us they would be able to muster up a few players from their under 16 team who were playing on the bottom pitch.  These players didn’t materialise so Angus C, Cameron and Hugh switched colours for the first 20 minutes and the game was on.

To say that the first 5 minutes were a little one sided in our favour is something of an understatement.  Rory, Duncan and Finlay Mac (twice) all scored before Lasswade were able to land a tackle.  This didn’t look like it would be the training game we were really looking for.  However Lasswade soon settled and started to mount a few attacks of their own.  They also forced us to go through the phases, setting up rucks to draw in their defence before getting the ball wide ourselves.  Even though Lasswade held us out our rugby started to look good.  Both Duncan and Alli scored before the end of the Third, with Elliot kicking the final conversion.

For the next Third, Ewan, Greg and Duncan switched over to the Lasswade team with strict instructions to give their team mates a tough game.  They duly obliged with Duncan scoring and putting Lasswade’s first points on the Board within a few minutes of kick-off.

This Third was certainly tougher for us.  It was great to see some of our passing as we moved the ball across the pitch and then back again.  It meant we were able to bring our wingers much more into the game.  For this Third Jay filled in at scrum half and Thomas switched to fly half.  We started to look strong.  From one of these attacks Alfie broke through and with a jink and turn of pace he sent the defence the wrong way and was in to score.  The next try went to Finlay M as he broke through down the hand right hand side of the pitch.  This was one a series of breaks from Finlay as his hard running, side stepping and offloading caused Lasswade some real problems.  The last try of the Third went to Finlay Mac as he managed to escape Ewan’s clutches and round in to score under the posts for his hatrick.  (I have to say Ewan was not to be out done and took as much pleasure in sending Finlay Mac the wrong way on a break of his own before being felled before the line.)  The moment of the Third (and possibly the match) though has to go to Scott who put in a monstrous tackle on Duncan just as we all thought he was through to score.  He didn’t give an inch all game.

The final Third saw two Linlithgow tries, one from Joe and a final try from Angus C who ran his socks off all morning.  This followed a nice couple of breaks from Angus T down the left hand side of the pitch.

Overall it was a good performance from Linlithgow.  We probably wanted to be tested a bit harder but it was good to see us working through the phases, looking for the tip ons and spreading the ball across the pitch so our wings could do some damage.  It was good to see Cameron stepping up alongside Daniel and Elliot in the front row, with his new found appetite for tackling.  Conor and Morgan also got further involved in the game following their absences for part of last season.  We also mixed things up in the backline to give the boys broader experience of playing in different positions with Max and Joe filling in in the centres at various points.  Player of the match this time has to go to Scott whose tackling was immense.  He played a sensible game at full back and is growing into this role.

Next week is George Watsons in the conference.  We’ll be looking forward to that!