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Sat 09 Dec 2023 · East Region League Division 1 (Men's)
1st XVLinlithgow Rugby Club
Tries: C StuartConversions: D BathgatePenalties: D BathgateYellow Carded: K Munro
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Haddington RFC vs. Linlithgow RFC
Webmaster Web Master12 Dec 2023 - 11:20
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First half performance not enough to keep league leaders at bay
In Haddington’s last game before the Christmas break, we welcomed league leaders Linlithgow RFC to Neilson Park on Saturday for our East League Division One game. This was a must-win game for both teams as they both looked to challenge for the title this season and Linlithgow came into the game as hot favourites after going 10 games unbeaten and sitting at the top of the table with 48 points.
Conditions on the day were less than favourable, with rain, poor light and a heavy pitch to add into the mix for this hotly contested match.
Playing in their alternative white strip, it was the home side who opened the scoring through the boot of fly half, Donald Bathgate. However, this was quickly cancelled out after Haddington gave away a penalty to allow Jack Frame the opportunity to kick his first penalty of the day and take the scores to 3-3 after twelve minutes of play.
With both teams not giving an inch in this fiercely contested game, it was Haddington who managed to get the slight upper hand on the 20-minute mark with a well worked try out in the corner. Haddington were awarded a scrum just outside of the oppositions 22-meter line and the backs produced a lovely mid-field move to allow winger, Paul McClung to burst up the middle. The Haddington pack then provided the go-forward momentum to only be caught just short of the line. However, some quick thinking from Donald Bathgate, saw the ball shipped back in the other direction to create the space out wide for Colin Stuart to go over. With the first attempt at goal missed, the referee allowed Bathgate to re-take the conversion after Linlithgow were deemed to have started their run early. This time, Bathgate was successful, and the scores sat at 10-3.
The home side must be commended for their first half performance, particularly in defence, which kept the Linlithgow pack at bay and restricted the away side to only six more points from the boot of Jack Frame. Half time score 10-9.
Disappointingly for Haddington, it was the away side who drew the first blood in the second half scoring out wide after a great pick from the base of the scrum from the Linlithgow number eight. Fly half, Frame was accurate from the tee again to take the scores to 10-16.
The second half was not to be for Haddington, as Linlithgow continued to pile the pressure on Haddington and score a further twenty-eight unanswered points to wrap up the bonus point win.
This was a disappointing day for the Club, particularly after the first half performance from Haddington and unfortunately, the physicality and fitness showing in the first half, wasn’t transferred into the second half. This young side will take away the positives and learn from their mistakes e.g. game management and playing in the right areas of the field into the final few games of the 2023-24 season.
We now take a break and the next league fixture is away to Leith RFC on Saturday 13th of January.
Conditions on the day were less than favourable, with rain, poor light and a heavy pitch to add into the mix for this hotly contested match.
Playing in their alternative white strip, it was the home side who opened the scoring through the boot of fly half, Donald Bathgate. However, this was quickly cancelled out after Haddington gave away a penalty to allow Jack Frame the opportunity to kick his first penalty of the day and take the scores to 3-3 after twelve minutes of play.
With both teams not giving an inch in this fiercely contested game, it was Haddington who managed to get the slight upper hand on the 20-minute mark with a well worked try out in the corner. Haddington were awarded a scrum just outside of the oppositions 22-meter line and the backs produced a lovely mid-field move to allow winger, Paul McClung to burst up the middle. The Haddington pack then provided the go-forward momentum to only be caught just short of the line. However, some quick thinking from Donald Bathgate, saw the ball shipped back in the other direction to create the space out wide for Colin Stuart to go over. With the first attempt at goal missed, the referee allowed Bathgate to re-take the conversion after Linlithgow were deemed to have started their run early. This time, Bathgate was successful, and the scores sat at 10-3.
The home side must be commended for their first half performance, particularly in defence, which kept the Linlithgow pack at bay and restricted the away side to only six more points from the boot of Jack Frame. Half time score 10-9.
Disappointingly for Haddington, it was the away side who drew the first blood in the second half scoring out wide after a great pick from the base of the scrum from the Linlithgow number eight. Fly half, Frame was accurate from the tee again to take the scores to 10-16.
The second half was not to be for Haddington, as Linlithgow continued to pile the pressure on Haddington and score a further twenty-eight unanswered points to wrap up the bonus point win.
This was a disappointing day for the Club, particularly after the first half performance from Haddington and unfortunately, the physicality and fitness showing in the first half, wasn’t transferred into the second half. This young side will take away the positives and learn from their mistakes e.g. game management and playing in the right areas of the field into the final few games of the 2023-24 season.
We now take a break and the next league fixture is away to Leith RFC on Saturday 13th of January.
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