YOUNG SCOTS BEATEN BY WELSH
Date Posted: 11-Mar-05

Scotland Under-21 7, Wales Under-21 31

Some 1,200 people turned up on a bitterly cold afternoon at Countesswells, Aberdeen today to see Scotland under-21s' run of wins halted by a well drilled grand slam contending Wales under 21 team.

A positive start for Scotland forced Wales into error in the opening minute, however the resulting penalty was missed by stand-off David Blair. Scotland were punished for conceding their own penalty which Wales kicked into touch for a lineout deep in the Scotland 22. The visitors won the set piece, drove the ruck over the line and scrum-half James Ireland touched down to give Wales a 5-0 lead.

Minutes later James Ireland made a break through the Scottish line and set up back row forward James Merriman for a well taken try. The conversion was kicked by stand-off Matthew Jones to give Wales a 12 point margin.

At times the Scots looked hesitant in the tackle but were however making good clearances and chasing kicks well.

After 21 minutes a good move from the Welsh backs broke the Scottish line and full back Alan Nash went into the tackle too high allowing winger Aled Brew to run in for a score. Jones slotted the conversion to increase the lead to 19-0.

Scotland's first assault in the Welsh half came from an up and under by winger Steven Manning which the Welsh knocked on, giving way to a period of pressure from Scotland.

The two sides were obviously aggravated and Wales conceded a penalty in their 22 for throwing a punch. Blair unfortunately missed his second penalty kick of the game.

A succession of Welsh infringements led to winger Brew being sent to the sin bin and the resulting penalty for Scotland was driven over the Welsh line as scrum-half Alasdhair McFarlane pounced on the ball for a try. Blair successfully kicked the conversion to reduce the score to 19-7 before half time.

Scotland started the second half promisingly with some good weaving runs by Manning. McFarlane was also making good yardage, taking quick penalties and penetrating the Welsh defence, sadly without the ultimate breakthrough.

Inside the last quarter a Welsh driving ruck led to a try from back row forward Chris Davies which took the score to 24-7 after 65 minutes.

Two minutes before full time substitute Rhys James touched down for Wales' final try from a scrum which was converted by substitute Aled Thomas to leave the full time score at 31-7.

Scotland coach Iain Paxton said: "We lost three fairly soft tries early in the first half which made it difficult for us to come back. We worked hard for our own score but to go into half time 19-7 down and then play into the wind was a big ask. The Welsh out-muscled us and we will have to learn from this game before we face England next week."

Scotland Under-21 - Alan Nash (Watsonians & East of Scotland Institute of Sport); Ben Addison (Stirling County and Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport), Nick De Luca (Heriot's & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Garry Law (Hawick & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Steven Manning (Ayr); David Blair (Sale Sharks), Alasdhair McFarlane (GHA); Stuart Corsar (Aberdeen GSFP), Ross Ford (The Borders and Scottish Institute of Sport), Willie Blacklock (Hawick), Ian Nimmo (Heriot's), Sean Tomes (Newcastle Falcons), Colin White (Stirling County), Scott Forrest (Glasgow Hawks & West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Neil Cochrane (Watsonians & East of Scotland Institute of Sport) captain. Substitutes - Richard Snedden (Currie) for McFalane (4-12 minutes), Stuart Fenwick (Ayr) for Blacklock (54), Steven Lawrie (Watsonians & East of Scotland Institute of Sport) for Corsar (67), Grant Strang (Aberdeen GSFP) for Cochrane (71), Douglas Flockhart for Nash (71), Sandy Warnock (Glasgow Hawks) for Forrest (74). Not used - Ben Di Rollo (Watsonians).
Try, McFarlane; conversion, Blair.

This article was posted on 11-Mar-2005, 20:59 by Hugh Barrow.