Reds put on a 90 point show at Moray

Moray  7 – 90  Linlithgow

Saturday 21 March 2026

Report by David Mitchell with photos from Graham Black

Morriston Park in Elgin was the venue for this Arnold Clark National League Division 4 match and despite recent poor weather in the area, the pitch and overhead weather conditions were both in good order. The Reds made the long journey from Linlithgow looking for a repeat of the early season home victory over their Highland hosts. 

There was the usual sprinkling of visiting supporters including a special day out for regular Bob Mullen who was celebrating his 80^th birthday. Bob was chauffeured to the game by his granddaughter, Niamh, who also generously provided a lovely cake which was devoured by many in the Moray clubhouse. 

The absence of Euan Mochrie forced some changes in the pack where Lewis McGill took the number 6 jersey and turned in a very accomplished performance. Eioan Magee slotted into the 2^nd row alongside skipper Fraser Mochrie. Otherwise, the team selection was as normal, despite having to cope with a late change on the bench where Club coach, Dougie Thomson, was slotted in as the 4^th replacement.

In the early exchanges, the lack of rugby over the previous 4 weeks showed in the absence of structure to the game for the 1^st 20 minutes. Moray put on some early pressure but the Reds resisted the aggressive home side and then opened the scoring when Ruaridh Stewart scored a fine solo try. From a line-out, hooker Kyle Ormond found his usual main target in Oscar Davies who fed the ball to scrum half Archie Rusack. Archie set his back line in motion and Jack Frame and Alfie Muir combined to release Ru and he rounded a couple of players and trotted in for the try. 

Ruaridh Stewart had another fine day and was one of 4 Reds hat-trick heroes

Moray responded immediately and after some goal line pressure their forwards barged their way over the try line. Their full back added the conversion to give the home side a 7-5 lead after about 10 minutes, and it seemed that the visitors might be in for a tough battle. However, the Reds soon took the lead again with yet another solo spectacular from Ru Stewart. After a solid line-out, Archie Rusack read the Moray defence and darted through a gap to set up a passing move that resulted in Ru stepping back inside his direct opponent before brushing aside the last tackler and scoring near the posts. Jack Frame added the extra points.

The Reds were having success with their wide passing game, and the Moray defence really had to scramble to keep the visitors out. The signs were there after the 1^st 20 minutes that the Reds were going to dominate and so it transpired when they added a 3^rd try. After a great 60 metre run by Luke O’Hara was halted just short of the line, a Moray line-out throw in was stolen by Oscar Davies and this possession eventually led to a try by Alfie Muir. Fraser Mochrie made a bullocking run from midfield and a well-timed pass from Eioan Magee sent Alfie over the line for a great try. Jack Frame added the conversion to make the score 7-19.

One of the most popular tries of the day came from an unusual source i.e. the front row. After some serious pressure on the Moray goal line, Lewis McGill was held up just short but quick thinking by prop Andrew Graham saw him scoop the ball up and place it over the line for his 1^st try for the Reds in a competitive fixture. His teammates showed their great delight for this infrequent occurrence. When asked about the distance over the line, your correspondent suggested 6 inches, but Andrew was quick to claim it was at least 8 inches! Jack Frame added the extra points.

As half time approached, the Reds, despite having a healthy lead and a Try Bonus Point, kept the pressure on and were rewarded with a 5^th try of the half. Spaces were now beginning to open in midfield as the home side scrambled to cover the wide areas, and Kyle Ormond supplied the pass to allow Jack Frame to identify a space and the number 10 scooted through on a 30 metre diagonal run to score wide out on the right wing. 

Jack Frame bagged 35 points on the day with 3 tries and 10 conversions

Half time: Moray 7 – 31 Linlithgow Reds

As the 1^st half went on, the Reds were creating more scoring opportunities despite some brave defending by their hosts. Although not being out of sight at half time, the Reds had built a solid platform from which to launch a flurry of attacks in the 2^nd half and that is what followed with a 9 try demolition job in the final 40 minutes.

The next try came with a simple long pass from Jack Frame to full back Ross Tulloch who skipped past the home winger and touched down near the corner flag. Jack added the conversion and then scored the 7^th try after Ewan Curran made progress up the wing and turned the ball infield. Oscar Davies and replacement Kieran Cochrane made barging runs into the Moray 22 metre area before Jack Frame dived over under the posts. He added the extra points to make the score 7-45.

Ross Tulloch then scored his 2nd try after Jack Frame found him with another long pass and he cruised in for the score. The Reds introduced Cam McHardy and Murray Johnstone from the bench and continued to dominate possession and territory. Alfie Muir scored his own 2nd try after a goal line drop out by Moray was fielded by Ross Tulloch who ran back hard at the defence before Ru Stewart gave the scoring pass to Alfie. Jack Frame again added the extra points.

The 10^th try came straight from the restart kick by Moray. The ball went through several pairs of hands before Ru Stewart glided into the Moray 22 metre area and seemed certain to complete his hat trick of tries on the day. However, he slowed down and started looking inside for support runners only to find super sub Dougie Thomson running flat out to catch Ru who generously passed the ball to the Coach who touched down for a splendid try. Jack Frame added the extra points as Dougie took the applause from his adoring public.

Dougie Thomson glides through for the ‘try of the day’

The next try allowed Alfie Muir to complete a hat trick of tries in the match when he scored wide out on the left after good work by Eioan Magee and Cam McHardy with Jamie Tulloch delivering the scoring pass to Alfie. Jack Frame added the conversion before Ru Stewart was rewarded for his generosity when he also completed his personal hat trick of tries after a great break up the middle by Murray Johnstone who then shipped a pass to Ru who dived over in the right corner. Jack Frame added yet another touchline conversion.

Ross Tulloch rounded off a busy afternoon for him with a 3^rd try in the same left hand corner as his other tries. Jack Frame missed the conversion but rounded off the scoring by bagging his hat trick try when he carved through the remains of the home defence from his own 10 metre line and touched down under the posts. He added the final conversion bring the game to an end.

Full Time: Moray 7 – 90  Linlithgow Reds

Reds Team

Front row: Calum McKeown, Kyle Ormond, Andrew Graham
Second row: Fraser Mochrie (capt), Eioan Magee
Back row: Lewis McGill, Jamie Tulloch, Oscar Davies

Half-backs: Archie Rusack, Jack Frame
Centres: Alfie Muir, Ruaridh Stewart
Back three: Ewan Curran, Luke O’Hara, Ross Tulloch

Subs (all played): 
Cameron McHardy, Kieran Cochrane, Murray Johnstone, Dougie Thomson

Comment

Another spectacular win for the Reds with 14 tries and 10 conversions against a Moray side that battled well for the first 30 minutes but then succumbed to a blitz of tries in the 2^nd half.

The Reds concentrated on moving the ball wide in the early exchanges and were successful in doing so. However, they then mixed it up by having some more direct running and carrying and eventually the home side’s defence splintered and could not cope with a very efficient attacking machine. There were an uncharacteristic number of handling problems in the 1^st half, but the problem was rectified in the 2^nd half.

A hat trick of tries for a player is usually a rare occurrence but 4 Reds achieved that feat in the same match i.e. Jack Frame, Alfie Muir, Ru Stewart and Ross Tulloch. Jack also bagged 10 conversions for a personal haul of 35 points on the day. Andrew Graham fully deserved his try as his performances have really stood out this season with his powerful carrying adding to his strong scrummaging and effective lifting in the line-outs. Finally, all credit to Dougie Thomson for being able to catch Ru Stewart showing such a real turn of foot that he almost overran him in his determination to score a league try in this cameo performance.

With 13 of the 14 tries being scored by backs, we also need to recognise the platforms provided by the forward pack. The scrummage was solid from the start and strengthened as the game went on. The line-out was very secure on our own ball and importantly Oscar Davies managed a few steals of Moray ball. Every forward was involved in ball carrying at some stage and as the game progressed, the carrying became stronger and the distribution and link play was really stepped up in the 2^nd half. 

Oscar Davies soars high to pouch another line-out

The backs all contributed including through the unselfish work of the non-try scorers. The desire to run the ball from all areas is commendable as long as the kicking game can be deployed when required. 

With only 2 games remaining in the league campaign, the Reds are probably going to finish 3^rd or 4^th but no doubt the aim will be to gain victories in those 2 games despite them being against the teams currently in the top 2 positions in Division 4. Due to 6 Nations games, the next game is away at Ardrossan on Saturday 21^st March with a 3pm start.