Devastating Defeat For Under-19S

SCOTLAND UNDER-19 12 IRELAND UNDER-19 13 Scotland Under-19 suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Ireland in their second pool match of the IRB Under 19 World Championship in Belfast, losing 13-12 as the hosts scored a converted try to win in the final seconds at Ravenhill this evening. SCOTLAND UNDER-19 12 IRELAND UNDER-19 13 Scotland Under-19 suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Ireland in their second pool match of the IRB Under 19 World Championship in Belfast, losing 13-12 as the hosts scored a converted try to win in the final seconds at Ravenhill this evening. Coach Peter Wright said after the match: Were all just devastated, especially the players. They put all the effort in and its just gutting to lose like that right at the end. The Scots were leading 12-6 as the clock ticked into injury time but the young Irishmen had pushed Scotland back to their own line and were awarded a five metre scrum on the right of the pitch. From there they took the ball infield and after several phases drove over for the try. They needed the conversion to win but as the ball had been touched down next to the left-hand post, the goal was almost inevitable. It was struck sweetly to the delight of the home support and utter devastation of the Scotland team, ending the match 13-12 in Irelands favour. The result added to an 11-6 defeat at the hands of France in the Scots opening championship match on Thursday night. Wright said: The players have put so much effort into this tournament and to lose both games the way we have is hugely frustrating for them. We have to be critical and look at ourselves because we didnt finish well enough tonight but we played to our game plan and the tactics on the field looked right. Ireland were reasonably dangerous at times but our defence was outstanding. We put in a huge defensive effort at the end but they managed to go over for the try. Scotland take on Fiji in the final pool match on Friday (13 April, kick-off 5.30pm) and Wright knows that turning his team around in the short time in between games wont be easy. He said: Itll be difficult to get up after that but we need to. We want to show everyone that this is a better team than the results have shown. It hurts but we are a good side. All of Scotlands points came from the boot of inside centre Stephen McColl who scored four penalties. SCOTLAND UNDER-19: Murray Allan (Stewart’s Melville FP); Lee Jones (Selkirk), Chris Kinloch (Fettes College/Edinburgh Academicals and ESIS)*, Stephen McColl (Dunfermline and TFIS)*, Tom Bury (Edinburgh Academicals); Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors, Cartha Queens Park and WSIS)*, Ross Samson (Newcastle Falcons/Tynedale); Gary Strain (Dalziel), Adrian Duncan (Stewart’s Melville FP), Joe Stafford (Glasgow Warriors, Hillhead/Jordanhill and WSIS)*, Neale Patrick (Dunfermline), Josh Brown (Bristol/Filton College), Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh Rugby, Dunfermline and TFIS)* CAPTAIN, Kevin Bryce (Glasgow Warriors, Stirling County and CIS)*, Alexandre Wukovits (Bègles Bordeaux) Substitutes from: FORWARDS: Steven Burton (Currie), Craig Charters (Hawick), Angus Dixon (Aberdeen GSFP), Ralph McInally (Perthshire), Lewis Niven (Edinburgh Academicals/Trinity Academicals), Craig Simmonds (Dalziel) BACKS: Ruairidh Bonner (Edinburgh Academicals), Harry Duthie (Harrogate), James Murray (Edinburgh Academicals), Matthew Heeks (London Scottish and St Marys Twickenham) * = National Academy player ESIS ” East of Scotland Institute of Sport TFIS” Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport WSIS ” West of Scotland Institute of Sport CIS ” Central Institute of Sport