GREAT U17 SCOTS SEE OFF ENGLISH IN MILLFIELD OPENER
Tuesday, 07 April 2009
England 3 - 17 Scotland
It was the best of starts for Scotland's U17 development squad at this year's Millfield Festival with an emphatic win over the home side.
At one of only two matches held away from Millfield School itself, at Tor RFC in Glastonbury, a crowd of well over 1000 created a great atmosphere for the two young sides to play their opening fixture of the tournament.
"The first game is always hard but it was a good victory and I'm really pleased," said Head Coach Bryan Easson.
"We stamped our authority on the game early on and dominated the lineout. There was a strong wind blowing across the pitch and we played against it in the first half, though were still up 11-3 at half time."
The points came from Stewart Hogg, who scored a great interception try in the first half, running from his own 10m line right down the field. Then over the course of the game captain Fraser Gillies notched up three penalties and Jack Bradford added a drop goal.
Said Easson: "The boys will get some rehab tomorrow, we'll do some video analysis then a training session in the afternoon - then it's back to Millfield on Thursday to play Belgium."
The format of the Millfield International Festival - in which each of the eight teams plays three matches (35 minutes each way) is on developing players and bringing groups of young players from different countries together at the Somerset school over the Easter holiday period. All 26 members of the Scotland squad will start at least one match, and play at least one half.

Scotland U17 Development Squad
Forwards
Robin Hislop (Hawick Wanderers)
Gavin Robertson (Earlston HS / Melrose Wasps)
Fraser Watt (East Kilbride)
Alex Allan (Sedbergh School)
Jack MacFarlane (Gourock HS / Greenock Wanderers)
Fergus Scott (Currie Colts)
William Kay (Boroughmuir)
Fraser Wem (Hampton School / Wasps)
Craig Ferguson (Glasgow HS)
Ben Johnstone (Stewart’s Melville College )
Malcolm Peacock (George Watson’s College)
Matthew Walker (Boroughmuir)
Andrew Nagle (Jed Thistle)
Jamie Swanson (Glasgow Academy)
Backs
Murray McConnell (Lenzie Academy / West of Scotland RFC)
John Adams (Aberdeen Grammar)
Fraser Gillies (Edinburgh Academy)
Jack Bradford (Worksop College )
Jack MacFarlane (George Watson's College)
Jamie Urquhart (Dollar Academy)
Stewart Hogg (Hawick Wanderers)
Harris Jones (Robert Gordon’s College)
Aiden McCall Hagen (St Aloysius’ College)
Ben Francis (Epsom College)
Ross Inglis (Calderside Academy / Hamilton)
Guy Skivington-Jones (Merchiston Castle School)
Management
Team Manager – Robert Charters
Head Coach – Bryan Easson
Assistant Coach – Gordon Henderson
Assistant Coach – Mark Appleson
CPD Coach – Stevie Scott
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Gary Dempsey
Doctor – Jon Turvill
Physiotherapist – Julie Morrow
Video Analyst – Ciaran Beattie
Millfield International Festival 2009
Tuesday 7 April England A (3) v (17) Scotland U17 k/o 7pm
Thursday 9 April Scotland U17 v Belgium k/o 11.45am
Sunday 12 April Scotland U17 v Wales A k/o 9.30am

This article was originally posted on 8-Apr-2009, 07:23 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 8-Apr-2009, 08:22.