Despite matching England early on and producing some impressive passages of play, Kenny Murray’s side were ultimately overpowered by their hosts, who ran in nine tries on their way to a bonus point win to remain top of the table.

There was a late change for the Scots before kick off as centre and captain Johnny Ventesei was ruled out through injury. In came Campbell Waugh to start, with Cameron Van Wyk taking Waugh’s place on the bench.

It look less than 30 seconds for the returning Freddy Douglas to claim his first turnover of the campaign. The Red Rose made a couple of quick phases after a Scottish knock-on from kick off, but flanker Douglas quickly asserted his presence back in Kenny Murray’s side by getting his hands on the ball in the ruck. His second came only four minutes later – some impressive groundwork early on from the Edinburgh man.

The first score came the way of the hosts through debutant Campbell Ridl. Some neat work out the back of the ruck gave fly-half Ben Coen space to find Ridl- who came in on a well-timed support line to jink his way through and over. Coen couldn’t land the conversion, losing his 100% kick success rate in the tournament (5-0, 6 mins).

Unfazed by England’s early score, Scotland came roaring back. A superb 50-22 from Jack Brown presented the chance to maul from the lineout, an opportunity that was duly taken. Some strong burrowing got Ollie Blyth-Lafferty inches from the line, where Matthew Urwin received the ball from the ruck before sending a pinpoint kick to the left corner for the lurking Fergus Watson to collect for his second try in as many games. Urwin failed to add the extras but Scotland were level (5-5, 9 mins).

The power of the English from the lineout caught the Scots short as they scored their second try. A low maul on the right side of the 22 saw Scotland lose too many bodies round the front, leaving hooker Kepu Tuipulotu under little pressure to break away and cross the whitewash. This time, Coen’s conversion hit the mark (12-5, 13 mins).

Scotland were dealt a blow midway through the first half as Urwin was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on. Referee Filippo Russo deemed the fly-half guilty of preventing a guaranteed English line-break on the right, where there were three white jerseys laying in wait had it not been for Urwin’s intervention.

Despite being a man down, Scotland reduced the arrears through a Jack Brown penalty. England centre Nick Lilley was caught offside just outside his own 22, giving the Scots an easy decision to go for the posts. Brown made no mistake, closing the gap to four (12-8, 25 mins).

England crossed for their third try just after the half hour through Kane James, who landed the crucial blow at the end of what was nothing short of a white battering ram. The hosts moved the ball quickly from a lineout after Junior Kpoku forced Noah Cowan to hack his clearance into touch. Several phases later, play was out to the left, where James stayed low to find the line. Coen’s kick found the posts (19-8, 31 mins).

The bonus point was claimed by England just three minutes later, with all three previous scorers playing crucial roles in the try. First it was Kane James who turned the ball over before a lung-busting run from hooker Tuipulotu. He made significant yards down the middle before a deft kick found Campbell Ridl. The next carry came from Tye Raymont, who showed neat hands to dot the ball down between the legs of Kerr Yule. Coen made it three kicks from four (26-8, 34 mins).

Tuipulotu grabbed his second score of the night after a lengthy TMO check just before the break. Scotland’s ill-discipline proved costly as Jack Brown was penalised for not releasing in the tackle. England went for the corner and from the lineout Tuipulotu was convinced he had got the ball down, although referee Russo disagreed. After consultation with TMO Adam Jones, the decision was overturned and England had their fifth. Coen’s kick struck the post and out as England entered the interval in control (31-8, 38 mins).

Half Time: England U20 31-8  Scotland U20

It was a strong second half start from Scotland. England lost the kick off, and quick hands from skipper Douglas freed Reuben Logan. As Scotland desperately tried to force him over, the English defence held firm and earned a goal line drop out. The Scots came again, a pick and go from Lafferty drove them tantalisingly close to the line. Just as it looked like a score was imminent, Douglas knocked on to thwart the visitors’ efforts.

The first five points of the second period went the way of the Red Rose. A penalty was awarded as Scotland failed to retreat from an English clearance . This time they switched up the lineout routine and went quickly, allowing Tom Burrow to break away in the right corner. The second row feinted the offload to Tuipulotu to get in on the act himself. Coen added the conversion, despite a challenging wind taking hold (38-8, 45 mins).

Fresh legs off the bench gave England a new attacking impetus. Another lineout was taken by Burrow before finding it’s way to substitute Josh Bellamy, who had looked bright after coming on. His sharp pass allowed full-back George Pearson to find his way past the Scottish defence with a power step back on the angle. Bellamy took over the kicking duties, converting his first attempt (45-8, 56 mins).

Noah Cowan’s attempts to play on the laws cost Scotland another penalty as he was caught offside. England revved their engines from the lineout once more and rolled forward. Again it was Bellamy who got his hands on the ball and flung the ball wide right, giving winger Jack Bracken space to run it in, despite the best efforts of Jack Brown. Bellamy failed to add the extras (50-8, 60 mins).

Scotland’s first points of the second half came through a brilliantly crafted try from Oliver Duncan – his second of the tournament. Powerful running from substitute Cameron Van Wyk gave Scotland significant territory up the right. Play was spun inside as the phases mounted, and some smart passes involving debutant Hamish MacArthur carved an opening in the blitz defence for flanker Duncan to crash over from ten metres out. Brown’s kick caught the wind and sailed wide (50-13, 70 mins).

The final try of the day was arguably the pick of the bunch as the England went from one end to the other. A clinical line break from Campbell Ridl was supported by Aiden Ainsworth-Cave who hit the turf metres out. One quick play later and Angus Hall had the ball in his grasp to fly across the whitewash. Bellamy kicked the final points of the night to crown a commanding performance from the hosts (57-13, 78 mins).

Full Time: England U20  57-13  Scotland U20

England U20: 15. George Pearson, 14. Jack Bracken, 13. Angus Hall, 12. Nick Lilley, 11. Campbell Ridl, 10. Ben Coen, 9. Lucas Friday; 1. Ralph McEachran, 2   . Kepu Tuipulotu, 3. Tye Raymont, 4. Olamide Sodeke, 5. Tom Burrow, 6. Junior Kpoku, 7. George Timmins, 8. Kane James.

Replacements: 16. Louie Gulley, 17. Ollie Scola, 18. Billy Sela, 19. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 20. Connor Treacey, 21. Jonny Weimann, 22. Josh Bellamy, 23. Tyler Offiah

Scotland U20: 15. Jack Brown, 14. Nairn Moncrieff  (both Edinburgh Rugby), 13. Campbell Waugh (Glasgow Hawks), 12. Kerr Yule, 11. Fergus Watson, 10. Matthew Urwin (all Glasgow Warriors), 9. Noah Cowan – Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders; 1. Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors), 2. Seb Stephen (Edinburgh Academical FC), 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Bart Godsell (Loughborough University), 5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors), 6. Oliver Duncan, 7. Freddy Douglas (Captain) (both Edinburgh Rugby), 8. Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints)

Replacements: 16. Joe Roberts, 17. Oliver McKenna (both Glasgow Warriors), 18. Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby), 19. Charlie Moss (Montpellier), 20. Billy Allen (Dungannon RFC), 21. Hamish MacArthur, 22. Ross Wolfenden (both Edinburgh Rugby), 23. Cameron Van Wyk  (Ayr RFC).

Player of the Match: Kepu Tuipulotu (England)

Referee: Filippo Russo
AR1: Federico Vedovelli
AR2: Franco Rosella
TMO: Adam Jones