THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
ALAN LORIMER

SCOTLAND, seeking a first win this season, play Wales in the second match of their Under-19 Six Nations campaign at Aberavon tonight hoping to better the performance they produced in the 15-6 defeat by France at Dalziel last week.

The Scots know that they face at least as good a side as the French, and one which is fresh off a 13-10 victory in England last weekend.


"We know it will be a tough game," said Scotland Under-19s coach Peter Wright. "They're very good at keeping the ball alive and are not afraid to take you on. We gave away a couple of soft tries against France and we want to make sure our defence is better for the Wales match.

"Despite the reputation Wales enjoy at this level we have to be positive. This is still a warm-up game for the IRB Under-19 World Championship in Dubai but the players now know what is required of them. We played well against France for much of the game. We created scoring opportunities but we lacked self-belief in finishing."

Wales, unchanged for a third consecutive match and with their players drawn from the academies of the four professional sides, showed their capabilities in December with a 27-7 victory over Australia Schools.

Scotland U19 (to play Wales U19 at Aberavon, 7.30 tonight): C Goudie (Stewart's Melville FP); D McCall (Stewart's Melville FP), J Cuthbert (Bath), C Mark (Haddington), A Robertson (Ellon); C Ferguson (Dundee HSFP, capt), M Bringhurst (Watsonians); A Dymock (Dundee HSFP), Tom Wright (Watsonians), G Reid (Ayr), R Duncan (Strathallan), S Turnbull (Stirling County), F McArdell (Hartpury College), D Levison (Dundee High School), D Lambert (Loughborough University). Subs: F Wilford (Sheffield Hallam University), R McCallum (Ardrossan Academy), N Hart (Watsonians), P McArthur (West of Scotland), J Hunter (Hillhead/Jordanhill), R Curle (Hillhead/Jordanhill), S McGee (Stirling County).

Wales U19: M Thomas (Scarlets); A Jenkins (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), A Smith (Dragons), J Lewis (Dragons); R Jones (Sale Sharks), R Lewis (Dragons); H Gustafson (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), J Corsi (Dragons), B Davies (Blues) captain, L Reed (Scarlets), J Turnbull (Scarlets), D Franks (Blues), L Evans (Dragons). Subs: K Jenkins (Blues), N Eaves (Blues), M Larsen (Blues), M Breeze (Ospreys), J Norris (Dragons), R Priestland (Scarlets), D Allinson (Scarlets).

This article was posted on 9-Feb-2006, 08:16 by Hugh Barrow.