The quick-thinking and sharp Scotland back-line exposed the opposition’s defensive kick-chase, as well as creating and executing overlaps in the wide channels, running in six tries to their opponent's one.

Match report
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Scots, however, who found themselves on the back-foot only minutes into the game, as some intelligent lineout play from Portugal resulted in an early try for their hooker.

The retaliation from the Scotland side looked dangerous but, initially, failed to bear fruit, as a number of unforced errors cost potential scores.

However, they soon settled into their stride, with live wire scrum-half Hugh Fraser the instigator.

His quick tap-penalty caught Portugal off guard before he fed number 8 Ally Miller to crash over at the corner and level the scores (5-5).

Following an Adam Hastings penalty, Fraser was again involved as he set up back-row Matthew Smith to cross the whitewash on the sound of the half-time whistle.

Half-time: Scotland 13-8 Portugal
Scotland started the second period with huge hunger.

The side's initiative to attack from a deep kick-return saw Hastings again involved as he broke up the wing, collected his chip kick and fed fellow centre George Taylor [pictured], who crashed over.

Hastings stepped up to slot the conversion (20-8).

With captain Jamie Ritchie in the sin-bin, Portugal took advantage of their extra-man in the scrum to yield a penalty, which they kicked through the posts (20-11).

This seemed to spark an unforgiving reply from the Scots as wing Ben Robbins showcased his searing pace to scorch past the Portuguese defence from the half-way mark.

His wing partner, Robbie Nairn, then slid into the corner only minutes later to stretch their lead to 30-11.

To round off the game, replacement forward Fraser Christie battled his way over the line to grab the final try of the match.

Full-time: Scotland U18 (13) 35-11 (8) Portugal U18
Scotland under-18 will now face the winner of today's Italy v Georgia match in the fifth/sixth place play-off this Saturday 19 April (10am UK time).

Scotland U18 team: Saul Melvin-Farr; Ben Robbins, Adam Hastings, George Taylor, Robbie Nairn*; Rory Hutchinson, Hugh Fraser *; Gary Robertson, Lewis Anderson, Zander Fagerson, Jamie Ritchie*, Callum Hunter-Hill, Scott Burnside*, Matthew Smith, Ally Miller*. Substitutes: Jake Kerr*, Murray McCallum, Callum Sheldon, Lewis Wynne, Fraser Christie, Andrew Manson, Max MacFarlane, Ruairi Howarth.

This article was posted on 15-Apr-2014, 13:23 by Hugh Barrow.