Linlithgow v Livingston

Linlithgow v Livingston. report by Ally Laird

Livingston travelled to Linlithgow on the 3rd October for the club's first league meeting in several years. Linlithgow got the wind in the first half and after a fair amount of pressure and several penalties scored their first try of the game. Linlithgow were totally dominant in the first half as Livi weathered the storm. Livingston defended all of the first half and several missed tackles and no ball must have taken their toll on the team.

The Livingston forwards struggled to win any ball, and no clean ball for the backs to use. The Livi backline struggled without any ball and missed too many tackles when the home team had the ball. Having said that the Livingston wingers, Ian Simmons and Jason Watt, and fullback Mark Douglas must be pleased with their first half as they took every high ball that was asked of them by the home team.

Livingston we awarded a penalty towards the end of the first half which Craig Bolan struck and they went in at half time 14-3 behind.

Livingston had the win in the second half and as a team they must've believed that the conditions would do all their work for them. Livingston rarely won any ball, which was not used properly. The forwards failed to win ball again and the backs struggled against more and more Linlithgow onslaughts. Livingston we to concede two trys in the second half. One a well worked moved by Linlithgow finished off very well and one a push over try from five yards out. the latter topping off a fine performance by the Lithgy pack.

Livingston only managed three penalties in the second half and the game finished 24-12 to Linlithgow. Livingston will have to raise their game as another tepid, insipid performance will certainly mean another defeat on Saturday against Whitecraigs.

The Livingston team was:

1. Eddie Stuart
2. Ally Laird
3. Brian Middlemass
4. Stuart Mushet
5. Gary Wilson
6. Robbie Wilson
7. Stevie Logan
8. Andy Stuart
9. Calum Sumpter
10. Andy Parks
11. Jason Watt
12. Craigy Bolan
13. David Stone
14. Ian Simmons
15. Mark Douglas

Replacements were:

Scott Cantley
David Laird
Jamie King.