Scotland U20 18-17 Wales U20
Scotland U20 (6) 18
Pens: Horne 6

Wales U20 (10) 17
Tries: Phillips 2 Con: Tovey 2 Pens: Tovey

BBC NEWS REPORTS

By Andy Campbell



Scotland's Under-20 side opened their Six Nations campaign with victory over visitors Wales at McDiarmid Park

Two penalties by Peter Horne put the hosts ahead but Kristian Phillips' try helped Wales into a 10-6 lead at the half-time interval.

But the Scots hit back in the second half with two more Horne penalties putting them back in front.

Horne added two more penalties before Phillips scored his second try of the night late on.

Tovey missed an early penalty and Horne kicked Scotland into a 3-0 lead after the full-back's forceful run had forced the Welsh to concede.

The Scots were putting together some neat passing moves and Wales gave away another penalty a few yards inside their own half for killing the ball.

Horne found touch from distance to double Scotland's lead.

Scottish captain Fraser Brown was sin-binned as the Welsh continued to press and Tovey reduced the deficit with a straight-forward kick.

Buoyed by their one-man advantage, Wales worked the ball out to the right and Phillips evaded two challenges before crossing the line. Tovey converted.

Horne reduced Wales' lead early in the second half with an angled kick which went in off the post.

Wales went on the offensive again but could not take advantage of a promising attack as Tovey was penalised for a knock-on.

Scotland flanker Chris Fusaro then broke clear of the Welsh defence only to be stopped 10 yards from the try-line by Tovey's tackle.

After another Tovey miss, Horne was given the chance to put Scotland ahead from distance but his effort was short.

Scotland then came close to scoring their first try of the night as Dai Langdon's kick deep inside his own half was charged down by Henry Pyrgos but the visitors recovered to avert the danger.

Another Welsh infringement afforded Horne another penalty attempt and the full-back atoned for his earlier miss to put the Scots 12-10 in front.

Brown was injured as Wales conceded a penalty near the halfway line and was replaced by Robbie McGowan.

The Scots were frustrated by more Welsh tackling near the try-line as Robbie Johnston was stopped in his tracks.

But the home side were soon awarded a penalty right in front of the posts which allowed Horne to extend Scotland's advantage.

And Horne added a further kick to give his side an eight-point lead.

Wales responded with Phillips breaking away on the right wing to cross the line for a second time and Tovey converted just before the final whistle.



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Scotland: Horne, Loudon, McCulloch, Johnston, Anderson, White, Pyrgos; Cameron, Brown, Morton, Campbell, Gray, Dewar, Fusaro, McInally.
Replacements: Gillies, Orr, Taylor, Drennan, Jericevich, McGowan, McKenzie.

THE HERALD REPORTS
Scotland U20 18 - 17 Wales U20
ALAN MACDERMID February 07 2009
McDiarmid Park

Scotland produced a morale-boosting performance in Perth last night as they overcame Wales to record their first ever Six Nations Under-20 Championship win.

It was a victory that Scottish rugby desperately needed in a sector that has always been the poor relation. But this current group, who beat Wales two years ago at Under-18 level, indicated that the tide is turning. "The lads showed tremendous maturity. They fully deserved their win after playing some great rugby," said Eamon John, the Scotland coach.

A dynamic team performance and impressive individual displays from full-back Peter Horne, lock Richie Gray and flanker Chris Fusaro put Scotland on the front foot for most of the first half, the reward being two penalty goals from Horne.

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But Wales, who defended stoutly against waves of Scottish attacks, crept back into the game and reaped their first points from a penalty goal by Dragons full-back Jason Tovey.

Then, with only a minute of the first half left, Wales made a lethal strike. Scotland scrum-half Henry Pyrgos tried to break but was caught and dispossessed, allowing Wales to attack from their own half.

The ball was transferred skilfully to young Ospreys winger Kristian Phillips, who had the pace and footwork to run in from 40 metres, Tovey converting from wide out for a 10-6 interval lead.

A third penalty by Horne brought the Scots to within one point of Wales before Tovey and Horne both missed at goal.

But with a crucial kick Horne goaled from 45 metres to put Scotland ahead 12-10.

With seven minutes remaining, Horne made it five kicks from six to stretch the Scots' lead to five points.

Incredibly, the Scotland full-back was not finished, his sixth success putting the home side eight points in the clear. Wales hit back with a second try from Phillips, converted by Tovey, but it was not enough to prevent a first defeat to Scotland.

This article was originally posted on 6-Feb-2009, 21:51 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 7-Feb-2009, 08:43.