Next Games

April 2013

All games for 2012-2013 Season are complete. A number of tournaments and sevens will be competed and a list will be posted in due course

The 1st XV game schedule and results table in the RBS EAST REGIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 is available to view by clicking on the pink box upper right of this page.

RHC Cougars 1st XV -v- Linlithgow

22 September 2012

After the disappointment of the loss to PL last week, the Boys were determined to return to winning ways against Linlithgow on Saturday. There were a number of changes, Beano replaced the unavailable Sparky at 9, with Kev Waters starting at 10 and Chris Mac starting on the right wing, and in the pack Pup returned, Sonny dropped to the bench, and Andrew Fraser started at open side with young Chris declared unfit before the Kick Off. Eck Edminston was pencilled in as a sub but it was thought he would not get back from overseas in time to play.

The Cougars started with a bang and were simply overrunning Linlithgow. Six or seven phases of possession from half way ended with the ball wide on the right. It was fed infield to Stumo, who ran a great angle to ten meters short of the line where he popped the ball to Mikey who carried it over. Beano who had replaced Happy as kicker, slotted the conversion.

Linlithgow missed a simple penalty and were to pay dearly as the Cougars struck again from deep. Beano carrying the ball well before passing to the supporting Mikey who scored his second of the game. The conversion missed, the Cougars led 12 - 0 with eight minutes played.

The dynamic pace of the game kept the supporters excited as both teams attempted to play a fast, expansive game, keeping the ball alive at every opportunity. Consequently it was no surprise when the home side elected to take a tap penalty from deep in their own twenty two. The ball was played righ,t releasing Chris Mac who danced his way through the cover defence and was able to off load to the supporting Hicksie who scored. Beano managed a good kick and the Cougars lead stretched to 19 points.

Further breaks by Andrew Fraser and Chris Mac suggested that the bonus try would arrive before half time, but Linlithgow's game defence prevented further scores.

Changes to the pack at half time saw Eck and Sunny replace Davey and Pup respectively.

For some reason, the discipline that has been significantly improved this season, let the Cougars down as they started to give away a series of penalties compounded by the unforgivable loss of extra meters for talking back. In the course of the game this happened on four occasions and whilst it did not cost us the game, it certainly contributed to an invigorated Linlithgow fight back in the second half.

Having said that, the controversial loss of a try from a driven maul (for the second week in a row), cost us dearly. The Club has adopted the defence of non contact at the catch and drive at a lineout, which in our interpretation means that the lineout can not be driven and should result in a penalty to the defending team if the attacking team grab players to force a maul, which is exactly what happened on Sat. The Referee's interpretation was at odds and a try given. The Club have asked that clarification be sought from the Referees Society.

Having allowed linlithgow to score it was vital that the Cougars score quickly, to score the bonus point and close out the game! Thankfully they achieved this. Having won a lineout on the right in the Linlithgow twenty two, they carried the ball well, with backs and forwards interplay resulting in a ruck on the line. On the third attempt, a pick up and drive by Sunny was rewarded and the bonus point secured. The conversion failed and the Referee, who had taken umbrage at comments made to him, awarded a penalty to Linlithgow at the restart!!

There was definitely a breakdown between the Cougars and the Referee and he marched the Home side back for repeated talking, putting Linlithgow a great position to score. They were not about to let the change pass, scoring a converted try to make the score 24 - 12.

Having no excuse for being penalised for dissent, the Cougars could feel mighty upset at the Referee for making a glaring mistake that resulted in Linlithgow's third and best score. It resulted from a turn over at a ruck where Beano was tackled by a man on the floor, and the ball stolen. The correct decision was a penalty to the Cougars. However, Linlithgow took full advantage and the left wing carried the ball deep into the Cougar half before a perfect pass out of the tackled released the Linlithgow full back who scored. With the conversion, the score now showed 24 - 19 with fifteen minutes to play.

With the Cougars having suffered their twenty minutes of madness, they collectively put their noses to the grind stone and literally squeezed the life out of the visitors, pressing them back into their own half. Sustained pressure resulted in Linlithgow giving away a kickable penalty converted by Beano, and a rarely seen "slow motion" drop kick by Kev.

The match ended as it had started with the Home backs attacking from deep, with a solo run by Chris Mac supported by Stumo almost resulting in the Cougars fifth score of the game.

A fine display marred by a period of indiscipline and some questionable decisions by the man in the middle.

Gold, silver and bronze to Chris Mac, Happy and Stumo which was almost a carbon copy of last week's where Sandy, Happy and Stumo were the winners.