Scotland led 21-20 at half-time in the under-21 international against Wales at Newport this evening. But they could not maintain that game after the interval, and the Welsh went on to win 34-24 with four tries to two.

Ben Cairns and Ben Addison scored the Scottish tries, both breakaways from long range. David Blair kicked a conversion and three penalty goals, and Garry Law struck the 35-metre drop goal that gave the Scots the lead deep in added time before the interval.

John Jeffrey, Scotland’s team manager, was disappointed with the result. “Our own unforced errors let the Welsh into the game,” he commented. “It was a game we could have won.”

Scotland’s game was upset early on when, after taking a 7-0 lead, they lost John Barclay, who was knocked out in a tackle. The No.8 was carried off on a stretcher after five minut5es’ attention on the field, and he was taken to hospital, though the official news that that for a check-up rather than because of any serious injury.

This article was posted on 10-Feb-2006, 21:48 by Hugh Barrow.