Currie 3s 17 – 15 Linlithgow 2s
Saturday 05 October 2024
Report by Des Martin
The Reds departed for Malleny Park the home of Currie Rugby Club with 17 players thanks to last minute additions. Findlay Chadwick and Andrew Archer had answered the manager’s plea and made themselves available later in the week and both played very well.
Currie 2s had no game that day, so the opposition was slightly stacked! However the Reds started strongly and carried the ball to the heart of the Currie defence. Ally Walker, playing at wing forward, was injured in the first 10 minutes and, fortunately, Andrew Archer was ready to step into the breach – a very able replacement! The Reds forwards were performing strongly with the front row of Aidan Mochrie, Max Holt and Matty Somerville all carrying and tackling strongly. From a good piece of forward and back play Fin Chadwick, who was having a great game, scored. 5 nil to the Reds and Currie we’re not happy because despite their best efforts they were not making much progress!
This Linlithgow 2s team can all tackle and some great hits were being put in. The two props, Somerville and Mochrie, together with Alex McHardy and Andrew Archer in the back row supported in the backs by Fraser Miller, Jeff Martin, Callum Lindsay and Eddie Beamish all put in some great defense, knocking down Currie players time after time. Unfortunately Max Holt who had been carrying strongly hurt his knee and had to be replaced by Stu Young. This disrupted us and Currie managed to score just before half time against the run of play.
Early in the second half good pressure from the Reds resulted in a penalty struck well by Fraser Miller. 8-7 to the Reds.
Currie managed to rumble over for a forwards try after a few penalties were given away. They had a very good kicker who gained them yards if they got a chance. The Reds stuck to their task and played some good rugby with Miller distributing well to Martin and Lindsay in the centres. Walker and Beamish supported well on the wings and from one such play Callum Lindsay scored. (He’s very hard to keep off the score sheet!) The try was converted by Miller to give the Reds a 15-12 lead.
Currie attacked again and a good ball found their winger who evaded three tacklers aiming to put him in touch. His foot was on the line, but the Currie player acting as linesman didn’t see it !!!!!!! With the conversion, the 7 points put Currie back in front at 17-15.
Linlithgow still pressed and had a closely missed penalty and a ball knocked from a players grasp as he was diving for the line in the last 5 minutes! But it was not to be and Currie ended up winning by two points. A great effort from all. We will beat them in the return fixture at Mains Park l am sure, whether or not Currie 2s have a game that day!
