Hat trick takes Reds to first win of season
Thomson is the hero of clash with North Berwick
Cal Thomson was the Linlithgow hero as his hattrick helped guide the Reds to their first victory of the season.
The 31-19 home win over North Berwick was just rewards after a challenging start to the campaign that has seen the Reds head into each game with a slew of players missing through injury.
And last weekend was no different as coach Dougie Thomson was forced to play scrum- half, while Fraser Mochrie switched from winger to second row.
Linlithgow started the match well and were pressing for most of the opening minutes.
They got themselves on the board thanks to Thomson, but the conversion was missed.
The work of the positive start was undone as North Berwick duly scored a converted try to take a 7-5 lead.
But Mark Caddle was the beneficiary of great play amongst the Linlithgow backs to touch down for the Reds’ second try.
John Chapman added the extra two points.
The topsy-turvy nature of the first half continued with North Berwick tallying an unconverted try in the closing stages to tie the contest at 12-12 only for Thomson to react quickly from the back of the ruck to ensure his side held a one-score lead at the interval.
As with the first half, Linlithgow were far the better team in the early phases of play in the second half and extended their advantage when Thomson run 20 metres to secure both his hat-trick and a bonus point for the Reds.
Chapman’s conversion put Linlithgow 26-12 to the good.
The Mains Park side continued their impressive play and would have added to their lead if not for losing the ball in contact on several occasions.
North Berwick made sure it was a nervy finish as they scored a flukey third try as the Reds’ clearance hit an away players bounced into the path of his team-mate as they reduced the deficit to 26-19 entering the final stages.
Given their lack of confidence, it would have perhaps not been a huge surprise if the Reds had panicked and thrown the game away, but they showed great resolve to sew up the points in the final minutes when Ross Plenderleith showed the visitors a clean pair of heels with a sprinting finish down the flank for the final score of the game.
Linlithgow are aiming to make it two wins on the bounce on Saturday afternoon as they travel to face a Duns side that got the better of West Lothian rivals Livingston last week.