Report: Scotland U18 33-19 Georgia U18

Tries from Hamish Mather, Cooper Simpson, Ben McDonald and James Roberts before the break put Scotland in command, before a late fifth from Alexander Sneddon sealed victory.

Scotland coughed up possession from the first phase of the match, and gave away a penalty which was kicked into the corner. The lineout didn’t work to perfection for Georgia but they tidied up well and Sandro Gamkrelidze spotted a gap at the side of the next ruck to dart over. Luka Chakua converted. (0-7, 2 mins)

The chances then began to come for Scotland, largely through Georgian indiscipline, but several penalties that were kicked to the corner lead to nothing as the lineout or maul went awry.

A change of tactic, and penalties five metres out were tapped. The first one lead to a knock on, but there was penalty advantage again and this time within two phases Hamish Mather burst through a tackle and over. Finlay Anderson converted. (7-7, 23 mins)

Soon after the restart an excellent jackal from Cooper Simpson got Scotland a penalty which was kicked to the right corner. From the maul James Roberts was halted an inch short. The forwards went to work, and it was Simpson himself who finished the move he started and burrowed over. Anderson added two more. (14-7, 28 mins)

If the first two tries were largely about the forwards, it was the backs who lit up Vichy for the third. From a lineout just inside Scottish territory, Angus Robson chipped over the top. It was gathered by Charlie Robbie, who in one motion grabbed it in the air and passed back to Robson, who in turn drew the last defender and passed to Ben McDonald to race under the posts for a fantastic score. Anderson was still 100% from the tee. (21-7, 32 mins)

A fourth, that Scotland in truth deserved, came with the last play of the half. The tap and go penalty strategy five metres out was abandoned for a return to the lineout, and this time Shellard collected Roberts’ throw and the latter was the beneficiary at the back of the maul to score. (26-7, 35 mins)

Half time: Scotland U18 26-7 Georgia U18

With Scotland reduced to 14 men for multiple penalties conceded in their 22, Georgia got themselves back into the game in similar fashion to their first try. This time, it was Mikheil Mgaloblishvili who spotted a ruck-side space a metre out and went over. Chakua converted. (26-14, 56 mins)

The young Scots showed excellent game management of the 14-man period from there, staying calm under duress from Georgia before winning a penalty. From the lineout outside Georgia’s 22, the forwards carried for a few phases and then Alexander Sneddon found space on the right. He passed to Samuela Lawaci on the wing, who gave it back inside to Sneddon to coast over for a third try in three matches. He converted his own score. (33-14, 60 mins)

Georgia then went up the other end and replied, with the maul on the left working well and Saba Gogrichiani reaching the line at the back. (33-19, 64 mins)

Full time: Scotland U18 33-19 Georgia U18

Scotland U18: 15. Finlay Anderson 14. Ruaridh Law 13. Ben McDonald 12. Charlie Robbie 11. Murray Waugh 10. Angus Robson CAPTAIN 9. Olly McKenzie 1.Zak Burgess 2. James Roberts 3. Cooper Simpson 4. James Dalrymple 5. Daniel Shallard 6. Hamish Mather 7. Bradley Bohmer 8. Rowan Walsh

Replacements: 16. Jack Nesbitt 17. Michael Scarth 18. Archie Smellie 19. Oliver Richardson 20. Angus Abel 21. Rory Baxter 22. Coel Pettet 23. Lochlan Glackin 24. Samuela Lawaci 25. Rhuari Hill 26. Alexander Sneddon

Georgia U18: 15. Luka Chakua 14. Bartlome Khamashuridze 13. Aleksandre Mamaiashvili 12. Mikheil Mgaloblishvili 11. Rezi Tskhvediani 10. Mate Makharadze 9. Giorgi Khonelidze 1. Giorgi Berdzenishvili 2. Sandro Gamkrelidze 3. Iago Ghudushauri 4. Nikoloz Pantsulaia 5. Saba Jinchvelashvili 6. Giorgi Kevanishvili 7. Mate Beruashvili CAPTAIN 8. Luka Shulaia

Replacements: 16. Saba Gogrichiani 17. Saba Merebashvili 18. Gega Giorgobiani 19. Nikoloz Kharebava 20. Giorgi Sutiashvili 21. Aleksandre Gagua 22. Ato Liparteliani 23. Nikoloz Lagvilava 24. Goga Beridze 25. Giorgi Kupreishvili 26. Nika Jangulashvili