Rugby: Livingston get off to a winning start

Sep 3 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

LIVINGSTON opened the season in style with a 47-25 win as they welcomed Langholm to Almond Park for their first game in National Division 1.

Livi kicked off into a strong wind and were pushed back by Langholm immediately.

Langholm were granted a penalty which they took full advantage of.

Livi were unperturbed however, and kicked off once more, and within a couple of minutes the home team were just outside the Langholm 22-metre line.

Good work from the Livi forwards provided good ball for Livi stand-off Craig Bolan who drew in defenders before off-loading to Ross Neil whose pace looked too much for the defenders and he scored a try to the left of the posts.

The conversion was successful to put the home team 7-3 ahead.

Livingston were playing against the wind but making good ground against Langholm.

They scored again when a delightful chip by Craig Bolan went over the head of the defence and was expertly gathered by Livi winger Colin Cantley to score in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful so Livingston went ahead by a further 5 points.

Ross Neil grabbed a brace in the first half but Langholm hit back with three tries of their own to make the score 22-20 at half-time.

The second half began and Livi had the wind at their backs and Langholm struggled to get out of their own half.

Langholm began looking like a tired team as the Livi forwards dominated their opposition.

After some good work by Livi, Langholm were under pressure with a scrum five yards from their line. Livingston's scrum annihilated Langholm's and Stuart Mushet pounced on the ball as it crossed the line.

Livi were to score again when Ross Neil secured his man-of-the-match status with his third try of the afternoon. The dangerous Livi man beat several defenders and crossed for his hat-trick.

Livi continued their offensive and were to score one more try when Richard Cooper scored in the corner after very open off-loading rugby to end the match 47-25 victors.

No doubt this result was a welcome one to the Livi faithful and to take it in the context of the first game of the season it was an impressive win.

Mistakes were made but dealt with well.

Special mention should go to Lewis, Colin and Scott Cantley, the first time three brothers have started for the First teams. Scott Cantley, the oldest of the brothers, made his debut for the Firsts and marked it with a fine performance. The big man scrummaged and carried ball well.

The afternoon was marked with a downbeat moment when Livi scrum-half Alistair Scobie was stretchered off with suspected ligament damage.

Next weekend Livingston travel to Edinburgh University who also opened their season with a win.

Livingston's 2nd XV also posted a win. A decidedly tighter game finished 24-22 to the men in blue and white.

The Livingston team was: L Cantley, A Laird, S Cantley, S Mushet, S Hay, R Wilson, S Logan (Captain), D Stone, A Scobie, C Bolan, C Cantley, R Neil, G Mushet, R Cooper, M Douglas. Subs: G Steel, E Stuart and J King.