Reds battle back to batter Broughton
Linlithgow dig deep for bonus point victory
Linlithgow stormed back in a second-half showdown to claim a bonus point win over Broughton.
The game started badly for the visitors as Broughton opened the scoring with an unconverted try in the corner.
The first half was strewn with penalties and it wasn’t long before Broughton got one in a scoring position as the first half ended 15-0.
The Reds pulled a score back with their first attack through Cal Thomson, before Broughton scored in controversial circumstances.
At 20-5 down Linlithgow had it all to do and for the next 20 minutes they were all over Broughton.
From a penalty they went for touch and scored through Rab Cairns who then got his second and Linlithgow’s third.
Ross Plenderleith got Linlithgow’s bonus try and with ten minutes to go The Reds were awarded a penalty which Cairns hit over under pressure to seal a remarkable comeback for the West Lothian side.
Meanwhile, Livingston were defeated 24-5 away to Forrester as the game at The Gyle ended in bad blood despite no yellow or red cards being shown.
Forrester won a penalty which was kicked to the five and from the lineout the ball was won at the back.
The pack drove towards the Livingston line where the scrum half picked the ball up and dived over to score the first converted try for 7-0.
Not long afterwards Forrester scored again. At 12- 0 it was all to play for and Livingston were coming more into play when an illegal neck tackle on second row Gary Wilson resulted in him having to go to hospital with a facial injury.
The long delay took the momentum out of the game and with several other injuries occurring, Livingston had used all their subs.
A good scrum allowed Forrester to breakout and the No.8 forward scored under the posts which was converted, taking the score to 19-0.
The referee blew for half time as tempers flared on both sides, with several off the ball incidents not being picked up by the referee.
Livingston got the second half underway and when Glen Mushet retuned a good clearance kick back, left winger Fraser Paterson to dive into the corner and to score the unconverted try. Forrester replied to make it 24-5. There was scrapping from both sides and numerous off the ball incidents.
Jason Watt was tackled late and, with no penalty given, the referee soon blew for full-time.