• Scotland A's Stuart McInally bids to break through the USA Eagles defence at Netherdale
The Scotsman reports

SCOTLAND'S second-string claimed a comfortable victory at Netherdale last night, but the 3,000-strong crowd had to wait an hour before seeing them put it to bed.
A try in each half from Lee Jones and one finished by prop Kyle Traynor ensured a heartening home win in the A team's first run-out of the season, but in a game in which they dominated the possession and territory almost wholly against a near second-string American side, they made hard work of it.
Scotland A coach Nick Scrivener said: "It has definitely been a worthwhile match for us. It was a bit of an arm wrestle and took a while for us to crack them open, but we were more direct in the second half and scored some good tries eventually, so we're pleased with that."
A young A team full of potential was forced into a late change by the call-up of Joe Ansbro to the full side, which handed an opportunity to 6ft 5in Bath full-back Jack Cuthbert, shifting Jim Thompson to wing, and John Houston, who was drafted onto the bench, and Cuthbert had some encouraging forays from deep.With a full international against Georgia next week, the Eagles opted to use many fringe players in a similar line-up to that which lost 20-6 to Saracens 11 days ago, and within three minutes they were in arrears, David Blair converting a penalty from wide on the left after a fine run by Cuthbert.

The Eagles shunned kicking penalties for goal, and charging runs by openside flanker Inaki Bassauri and Chris Biller, the hooker, set the tone for a formidable American pack boasting a big back five and several players of South Sea Island origin. But the Scots soaked up the opening pressure.

Scotland moved ball well in attack, Ben Cairns finding a gap and Blair moving it swiftly, and when it came back infield, Fraser McKenzie's deft footwork took him past the first defender. But it was the first of several attacks that evoked a penalty, which Blair duly turned into another three points.

A mix-up in midfield let powerful lock Samu Manoa escape on a dangerous run into the home half, and had he had support it could have been the game's first try.

The Scottish pack took a grip of the scrummage with fine drives into the visitors' 22, and after giving a dose of penalties against the Eagles scrum, French referee Matthieu Raynal showed loosehead prop Matekitonga Moeakiola the yellow card.

This article was originally posted on 20-Nov-2010, 07:45 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 20-Nov-2010, 07:48.