TWO OUT OF TWO FOR YOUNG SCOTS
Posted: 05/Apr/07
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Scotland under-17 17 England under-17 15

Scotland under-17 posted their second consecutive victory in the Millfield International tournament in Somerset tonight. Following on from Tuesday’s success against France, they accounted for their English counterparts 17-15.

Scotland’s points came from two first-half tries by full-back Euan Shand and a second-half try by left wing Dougie Fife. Stand-off Ross Aitken converted Shand’s first score.

Head coach Grant McKelvey said: “We did exceptionally well tonight but I’ve stressed to the players that the job isn’t over yet, as we’ve still Wales to play on Saturday morning.

“Tonight’s was a heroic effort from the entire squad. We dominated both territory and possession in the first-half and England found it difficult to cope with the pace and width we were putting on the ball.”

Scotland led 12-3 at the interval through Shand’s try brace and they achieved that margin in spite of being short-handed for ten minutes when loose-head prop Craig Owenson was yellow-carded for what the referee considered a technical offence at a scrum.

In the second-half Scotland added Fife’s try but England regrouped and sought to kick to the corners and launch their driving maul.

McKelvey noted: “We managed to stop them on about three or four occasions through some huge impact tackles primarily by Alex Dunbar in midfield.”

England did pull back two scores, the conversion of their second try proving the last kick of the game.

McKelvey said the introduction of centre James Johnstone for this match had proved influential in Scotland’s desire to play with width and he also praised No 8 Jack Walker for an “excellent all-round back-row performance.”

Scotland’s final match of the tournament is on Saturday against Wales with a 9.30am kick-off.

Tonight’s Scotland under-17 team: Euan Shand (Fettes College); Tom Brown (Edinburgh Academy), James Johnstone (Merchiston Castle School), Alex Dunbar (Annan), Dougie Fife (Boroughmuir); Ross Aitken (Howe of Fife), Alex Black (Harrogate); Craig Owenson (Musselburgh), Mungo Strachan (Fettes College), Andrew Fraser (York), Robert Harley (West of Scotland), Andrew Renwick (Selkirk YC), Stuart McInally (George Watson’s College) captain, Jack Walker (St Columba’s, Kilmacolm), Michael Fedo (Howe of Fife).

Subs: Lindsey Gibson (Hawick Wands), Nicky Little (Hawick PSA), Colin Wood (Selkirk YC), Euan Dods (Gala Wands), Tom McGarrity (West of Scotland), Michael Maltman (Musselburgh), Patrick Boyer (Highland), Andrew Lundie (Glasgow Academy), Sam Hughes (North Berwick HS), Max Learmonth (Berwick) and Jamie Harris (Merchiston Castle School).

This article was posted on 5-Apr-2007, 22:12 by Hugh Barrow.