Linlithgow Rugby Club target lengthy run in National Shield

Linlithgow Rugby Club intend to grab their National Shield chance with both hands as they prepare for the step-up to the National Leagues.

Boss Dougie Thomson is taking nothing for granted as he prepares for Saturday’s second round clash against Forrester at Mains Park, despite a 37-point gap between the sides in East League One.

The Reds beat Forrester 26-12 to win the title on January 13, which wasn’t as comfortable a victory as Thomson would have hoped, and he says this is an important competition for them.

Thomson said: “We’re pretty realistic and this is our best chance we’re going to have, because going into the National Leagues means we go into a different part of the cup competition.

“This is our last chance, hopefully for a good few years, to make a mark in this cup.

“We’re not taking it for granted on Saturday and that’s probably the main thing.

“Forrester made things really hard for us down at their bit when we ended up winning the league.

“If it hadn’t been for a last-minute try we would have won it by more, but it wasn’t as comfortable as we would have liked.

“There might be somebody’s mums and dads asking for 50 points, but we have a bit too much respect for Forrester to say anything like that.

“They’re not going to roll over and let us run 100 past them, so it’s always a difficult game.

“Our first part of the season was winning the league, and the second part is getting a good cup run.

“It’s another challenge we can look forward to.”

Linlithgow last played when they beat Langholm 35-5 on January 27 and they’re not in league action until March 30 when they travel to Leith, but are still 24 points ahead of second-placed Haddington.

That dominance might not persist in the National Leagues, but Thomson is