Livi lose out in Rose Bowl battle
Linlithgow edge it in league and cup double
Livingston and Linlithgow fought out a tight league and West Lothian cup double as the Linlithgow rugby side took the points and the Rose Bowl trophy 39-49.
It was Livingston who kicked off but the ball failed to travel the 10 metres so it was back to the centre for a scrum to Linlithgow, but the home pack pushed them back and won a penalty.
They elected to scrum and when Gary Wilson picked up at the back, he pushed over for the first unconverted try to make it 5-0.
During the next 25 minutes, play was fairly evenly matched, Linlithgow kicking two penalties through John Strachan to Livingston’s one kicked by Dean Edwards, taking the score to 8-6 in favour of the home team.
Then in the final two minutes of the half, the game burst into life as first Livingston scored a converted try out wide through Colin Cantley. Then Linlithgow’s Rab Cairns pounced on a wayward pass on halfway to claim his own kick ahead and run 40 metres to score a converted try under the posts to make the half-time score at 15-13 in favour of the home team.
The late flurry of scoring was a sign of things to come as both sides traded scores in an open and thoroughly entertaining second half that contrasted the styles of play – Livingston playing to the strengths of their big pack, while the Reds played a blend of fast and open rugby with their backs making the most of chances that came their way.
Livi extended their lead with a penalty in front of the posts before the Red’s John Chapman scored a converted try after running 30 metres to put the Reds in front for the first time 18-20.
This spurred the home side into action and Jason Watt latched on to a loose ball to score a converted try and make the scores 25-20.
After the restart another bad clearance kick from a Livingston player was charged down by the Reds’ Sean Hagerty and John Strachan was first to react to score a try which he himself converted to restore the Reds lead at 25-27.
Andrew Whitelaw then claimed a brace of tries for Linlithgow, either side of a converted try by Livingston’s Max Henderson before a converted try from Marius Tamosaitis brought the score to a tight 39-41.
As Livingston pushed for the try that would give them the lead they gave away a penalty converted by John Strachan before a further try from Herdmen sealed the win for Linlithgow.