Match Report: Scotland U20 Men 17 – 33 England U20

The young Scots had the home crowd on their feet within the opening minutes when stand-off Jake Dalziel produced a sensational intercept, cutting through England’s attack and racing from inside his own half before being hauled down agonisingly short of the try line. However, it mattered little as Ross Wolfenden was penalised for offside during the defensive set, handing England territory. Thankfully the visitors’ kick to touch was short, Henry Widdowson cleared Scotland’s lines.

England however capitalised on their next opportunity where they were awarded a scrum, after Scotland lost the ball forward. From the base of the scrum, Lucas Friday chipped the ball over the Scottish defence and with Finn Keylock in close pursuit, her gathered to dot down. Keylock was unable to convert (0-5, 8 mins).

Wolfenden quickly made amends for his earlier penalty, winning a crucial turnover just metres from Scotland’s try line to deny England a second score before the 13-minute mark.

The visitors did extend their advantage soon after. A Scottish lineout inside their own 22 went astray and fell into the hands of England’s Jimmy Staples, who crashed over the whitewash. Keylock added the extras (0-12, 23 mins).

An impassioned Scotland responded with urgency. After England fumbled the restart, the hosts found themselves with prime attacking territory inside the Auld Enemy’s half. With referee Ben Connor playing advantage for offside, Scotland kicked to touch and retained possession. Following sustained pressure from the forward pack, Hamish McArthur sniped over from close range to get Scotland on the board. He was unable to convert his own try (5-12, 28 mins).

Although England remained in front, their discipline began to falter. A string of penalties allowed Scotland to build pressure and earn a five-metre line out, and when the visitors were again caught offside, the hosts were awarded advantage. After hard work from the pack, the ball was worked to McHaffie, who powered across the line. McArthur converted to level the scores, while England’s Seb Kelly was shown a yellow card, reducing the visitors to 14 players (12-12, 33 mins).

Despite their numerical disadvantage, England struck back before the break quickly making their way into Scotland’s half. Captain Connor Traecey crashed over, and Keylock converted to restore the lead (12-19, 38 mins).

Scotland, however, refused to let the half slip away as they asked questions of England’s defence as they earned another penalty for a lineout inside England’s 22. After relentless work from the forwards, Jamie Stewart forced his way through as the clock ticked into the red. McArthur’s conversion drifted wide, leaving Scotland trailing by just two points at the interval.

Half-time: Scotland 17 – 19 England

It was a tense start to the second half for Scotland as England looked to strike early, chipping in behind the defensive line. A foot race followed between Widdowson and two men in white, all scrambling to be first to ground the bouncing ball. After some deliberation with the TMO, the match officials ruled the grounding simultaneous, denying the visitors the score. Following that decision, England returned to a full complement of 15 as Kelly re-entered the fray following his yellow card.

Moments later, Scotland found themselves under pressure to exit their own half, and with that possession fell to England full-back James Pater. Spotting space, he accelerated down the right wing and finished in the corner to secure the bonus-point try. Keylock added the extras (17-26, 46 mins).

England continued to probe, applying sustained pressure and pinning Scotland deep on the fringes of their try line. Fresh off the bench, Calum Jessop made an immediate impact for the hosts, producing a crucial strip of the ball to deny what looked a certain score.

Between the 50th and 60th minutes, neither side was able to establish any sustained foothold, as a flurry of penalties conceded across the park repeatedly dismantled any attacking platform.

A difficult spell followed for Scotland as they were camped inside their own 22. In the 65th minute, England’s Sonny Tonga’uiha appeared to have forced his way over the whitewash, but after TMO review, Finn Ronnie was adjudged to have knocked the ball back illegally at the ruck and was shown a yellow card, resulting in the try being disallowed. Play was brought back for a penalty, and although England looked to capitalise, Harvey Preston held them up over the line.

With the numerical advantage telling, England struck again. Gathering a crossfield kick from Dalziel, Tyler Offiah combined neatly with Will Knight to manufacture space on the right wing, allowing Knight to dot down in the corner. Keylock converted to stretch the lead further (17-33, 72 mins).

Despite their best efforts in the closing stages, Scotland were unable to claw back the deficit in the time that remained.

Full-time: Scotland 17 – 33 England

Scotland: Henry Widdowson, Nairn Moncrieff, Campbell Waugh, Ross Wolfenden (captain), Rory McHaffie; Jake Dalziel, Hamish MacArthur; Jamie Stewart, Joe Roberts, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Christian Lindsay, Alfie Blackett, Sam Byrd, Jack Utterson, Rory Purvis.

Replacements: Jamie McAughtrie (for Blyth-Lafferty, 74 mins), Oliver McKenna (for Stewart, 53 mins), Jackson Rennie (for Roberts, 74 mins), Fin Ronnie (for Blackett, 53 mins), Harvey Preston (for Utterson, 56 mins), Oliver Finlayson-Russell (for Purvis, 53 mins), Adam McKenzie (on for McHaffie, 67 mins), Calum Jessop (on for Wolfenden, 50 mins).

England: James Pater; Sam Winters; Nick Lilley; Victor Worsnip; George Pearson; Finn Keylock; Lucas Friday; Oliver Scola; Jimmy Staples; Sonny Tonga’uiha; Elliot Williams; Patrick Hogg; Aiden Ainsworth-Cave; Seb Kelly; Connor Treacey (captain).

Replacements: Kealan Freeman-Price; Oliver Spencer; Harry Wright; Freddie Ogden-Metherell; George Marsh; Asa Stewart-Harris; Will Knight; Tyler Offiah.

Referee: Ben Connor (WRU)
Assistant referees: Carwyn Sion and Lucas Yendle (both of WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Attendance: 6,255

Player of the Match: James Pater (England)