Livingston back on track with home win
Great display from the home side at Almond Park
Alistair Knox Livingston finally got back to winning ways thanks to a blistering first half display at Almond Park.
The home side had the points in the bag at half-time after racing out to a 35-point lead at the break as they picked up their second East Region League One win of the campaign.
Aaron Ferguson bundled his way over the line in the early moments to give the home side a lead they never looked like squandering during a contest that proved how the team can play when at their best.
The tries came thick and fast during the first 40 minutes with Glen Mushet scoring near the posts for Livi’s second score. Dean Edwards made it 14-0 as he made it two-from-two in conversions.
Broughton were next to put points on the board during a rare attacking phase by the visitors as their right- winger showed lightning speed to race into the corner for the score.
That was to be as good as it got for the visitors as Livi would go on to add 26 unanswered points before the referee’s whistle blew for the half-time break.
Having conceded, Livi were quickly on the attack once again with scrum-half Ally Williamson chasing down a long kick through the Broughton defence before scooping the ball up and evading a tackle to dive over the line.
It didn’t take long for Livi to add their fourth try, and the bonus point that came with it, as the hosts claimed a line-out before Williamson fed the ball to Max Henderson to touch down.
They weren’t finished there, either, as tries number five and six both arrived before the break.
Centre Rory Anderson showed the defenders a clean pair of heels as he chased down his own kick to score near the corner.
Edwards proved he wasn’t perfect as he missed the conversion - his only miss of the afternoon.
As half-time was approaching, Jason Watt led his pack on a big drive down the field before charging over the line to finish a remarkable half of rugby in style.
Livi haven’t had the rewards their play has deserved this term, and a key factor to that has been their inability to put together an impressive display for the full 80 minutes, so it is perhaps a little disappointing that after notching six tries in the first half, they were held scoreless after the break - but that would perhaps be too harsh on the side as they already had the victory sewn up before taking the field for the second half.
Broughton made the most of a Livi knock- on to score their second try as they recycled the ball before finding space in the corner.
Another knock- on cost the home side what appeared to be a certain try, and once more the visiting side took full advantage as they reduced the gap further.
Broughton would at least get some rewards for their valiant second half effort as they added a fourth try in the closing stages to ensure a bonus point, but they gave themselves far too much to do with a lackluster display in the first half.
The challenge for Livingston now is to build on the confidence that this display will no doubt have given them. Next up is a trip to the side immediately below them in the table as they travel to Forrester on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is 3pm.