NINTH PLACE ELUDES FIGHTING SCOTS
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Scotland under-20s finished their IRB Junior World Championships in 10th place, today (26 June), despite a hard-fought comeback against Argentina.

The young Scots managed to clean up an early 15 – 0 deficit in the ninth place play-off in Stadio Mario Battaglinni, Rovigo but were denied the victory by a single point. 

Scotland head coach, Peter Wright said: “I am proud of the performance the boys put in today. 

 
 
“They have played really well in what has been an extremely tough competition. 

“I can’t praise them, the coaching staff, the medical staff and all the others involved enough for the work that has been put in over the last week. 

“Obviously we are disappointed with the loss but I’m proud of the effort the players put in.”

Argentina snapped up an early lead with a penalty try, a second try and conversion and a penalty kick from stand-off Sebastian Poet giving them a comfortable lead. 

The Pumas took these chances when Scotland’s Mitchell Todd had been sent to the sin bin for a ten-minute stint. 

However, on the half hour mark, Scotland scrum-half, Sean Kennedy, crossed the whitewash off the back of a ruck with captain Duncan Weir adding the extras to pull the Scots back into touching distance. It was at this point that the Scots regained confidence and began to increase the intensity of the game.

Halftime: Scotland U20 7 – 15 Argentina U20

Scotland managed to maintain most possession in the second half, denying Argentina any more points on the scoreboard. 

Their forward momentum was then rewarded after a second touchdown came from full-back Stuart Hogg, who continues to make his presence known after returning to the squad earlier in the week.

However it wasn’t Scotland’s day as only a single try and conversion wasn’t enough to rebalance the scoreboard.  

Fulltime: Scotland U20 14 – 15 Argentina U20

Scotland Team: Stuart Hogg; Mark Bennett, Sam Atkin, Danny Gilmour, Kerr Gossman; Duncan Weir, Sean Kennedy; Alex Allan, Richard Ferguson, Colin Phillips, Mitchell Todd, Robert McAlpine, Mitch Eadie, Hamish Watson, James Tyas

Substitutes: Michael Liness, Gregor Hunter, Robin Hislop, Jamie Swanson, Jamie Stevenson, Glenn Bryce, Alex Spence  
 

This article was posted on 26-Jun-2011, 17:34 by Hugh Barrow.