Report: Scotland Men U20 48-10 USA U20

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JULY 17: The Scotland players celebrate Kerr Yule's try during a World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 Final match between Scotland and USA at Hive Stadium, on July 17, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Ollie Blyth-Lafferty and Robbie Deans earned Scotland a scrum penalty deep in the USA’s 22, Andy McLean kicks to the corner. After a successful line out caught by Ru Hart, Euan McVie got his hands on the ball and was heaved over by the heavy driving maul. The conversion was missed [9 mins, 5-0].

It took just under 20 minutes for Scotland to add their next score. A fantastic break from Conor McAlpine let him cruise down almost half of the pitch before offloading to Jerry Blyth-Lafferty who managed to keep up with the speedy scrum half. The ball was then played out wide to eventually be gathered by Johnny Ventisei who sidestepped his opponents to dive under the sticks. Andrew McLean made the conversion from close range [27 mins, 12-0].

The USA’s defence were strong but Scotland’s forwards were stronger. It took many phases and many close calls, but eventually Number 8 Tom Currie squeezed the ball over the line. [37 mins, 17-0].

Half Time: Scotland 17 – 0 USA

First points of the second half went to the USA when Scotland conceded a penalty for not releasing. Corbin Smith opted for the kick and added his team’s first three points [44 mins, 17-3].

Just a couple of minutes later and the response came from Scotland. USA were penalised at the kick off and Andrew McLean made a swift kick to the corner. An accurate line out got the ball turned into a heavy maul with Jerry Blyth-Lafferty at the helm and he crashed over. The conversion was missed [46 mins, 22-3].

Scotland added their fifth try through another trundle from Jerry Blyth-Lafferty. Another penalty for Scotland was kicked to the corner. The line out was gathered and the forwards got to work to push through the American defence. JBL kept the ball secure and splintered out of the maul to crash over. Jack Hocking was on kicking duties and got the extra two [66mins, 29-3].

Another Scotland try for good measure and a second for McVie. A couple of chances saw the Scots get close the line once again and McVie gathered a high ball to crash under the posts. Hocking’s kick was good again [72mins, 36-3].

McVie was soon over the line for his hat-trick. The forwards were winning almost every collision at this point, and again it was from short range that the second row got the final inches. Hocking converted to extend the gap. [74mins, 43-3]

And soon after Kerr Yule got on the scoreboard. Ollie Duncan made a rampaging run up the middle on debut, and it was Yule who wrestled out of a tackle on the left to score. The conversion went wide. [77mins, 48-3]

With the final act, USA got their first try through Farrell [80mins, 48-10] but in the grand scheme it meant little as Scotland secured their spot in the U20 Championship for next year.

Full Time: Scotland 48-10 USA

Scotland U20: 15. Fergus Watson (Glasgow Warriors), 14. Finlay Doyle (Loughborough University), 13. Johnny Ventisei (Glasgow Warriors), 12. Findlay Thomson (Watsonians), 11. Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University) (co-captain); 10. Andrew McLean (Boroughmuir Bears), 9. Conor McAlpine (Watsonians); 1. Robbie Deans (Edinburgh Rugby), 2. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Euan McVie (Edinburgh Rugby), 5. Ruaraidh Hart (Glasgow Warriors), 6. Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby) (captain), 7. Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), 8. Tom Currie (Edinburgh Rugby) (co-captain)
Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen (unattached) (on for Jerry Blyth-Lafferty 69mins), 17. Ben White (Biggar RFC) (on for Deans 58mins), 18. Jake Shearer (Ayr RFC) (on for Ollie Blyth-Lafferty 72mins), 19. Dylan Cockburn (Southern Knights/Melrose RFC) (on for Hart 52mins), 20. Ollie Duncan (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for Douglas 64mins), 21. Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for McAlpine 67mins), 22. Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors) (on for Thomson 57mins), 23. Jack Hocking (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for McLean 50mins).

USA U20: 15. Corbin Smith,14. Jordan Vassel, 13. Dominic Besag, 12. Max Threlkeld, 11. Keelan Farrell, 10. Rand Santos, 9. Spencer Huntly, 1. Asbjorn Jones, 2. Caden Crist, 3. Asa Rosenmeier, 4. George Engels, 5. Braemar Murray, 6. Graeme Pedegana, 7. Daniel Lowther, 8. Logan Ballinger

Replacements: 16. Seth Smith, 17. Thomas Wagner, 18. Luke Schaefer, 19. Brice Muller, 20. Dylan Fortune, 21. Solomon Williams, 22. Oliver Cline, 23. Raymond Hahn