Round-up: Day One Women’s U18 Six Nations

Speaking after the matches, Scotland Women U18 Head Coach Duncan Harrison said: “Today’s performances certainly settled a few nerves and girls grew well into both games, finishing strongly.

There are a couple of tweaks, both sides of the ball, which will challenge the girls to continue to make collective and individual improvements.”

Scotland v England 

The game ebbed and flowed for the opening period but both sides were unable to get points on the board in the opening ten minutes. The first points of the day came from England scoring under the posts off the back of a scrum, followed by a successful conversion.

After 12 minutes, Lejkowski was sent to the sin bin as a result of repeated infringements from the girls in blue. A few minutes later, England were able to capitalise when they crossed the line and were able to add the extras.

After spending 5 mins in the sin bin, Scotland returned to their full 15. The 20 min mark saw England get over the line and the conversion saw England go up to 21 points.

Scotland made a couple of substitutions to allow their girls some game time to aid their development for the last 15 mins. Scotland had the lineout with 3 mins to go, but lost possession, however the neighbours were offside allowing Scotland to have the penalty.

With the ball changing hands, Scotland had the scrum with less than a minute to go and were awarded a free kick as England engaged in the scrum too soon. England’s no.12 was sent to the sin bin just before full-time and although Scotland gained some good ground, a knock-on from Scotland brought a halt to their promising attacking play and the game to an end.

Full-time: Scotland 0 – 21 England

Scotland: Lucy MacRae (Stirling County); Nicole Flynn (Stirling County); Niamh Robertson-Jack (Stirling County); Freya Lejkowski (Biggar); Hollie Howland (Stirling County); Isla Jamieson (Corstorphine Cougars); Hannah Dunnett (Caithness); Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County); Karis Craig (Watsonians); Ella Williams (Bristol Bears); Eva Finnie (Strathmore); Holland Bogan CAPTAIN (Cartha Queens Park); Isla Wheeler (Hillhead Jordanhill); Tessia Smyth (Stirling County); Megan Hyland (Garioch).

Photos by Miles Myerscough-Harris

Scotland v Wales

It took three seconds before the first scrum of the game with Scotland having the put in. Wales intercepted the ball and after a run up the pitch, Wales got the first score of the day but unable to get the conversion.

Minutes later Scotland were able to hold Wales up on the line. Scotland were then awarded a penalty but the referee deemed the line-out throw not straight. Wales got up to the line but Scotland’s defence held firm and were once again able to hold them up.

After 12 minutes, Wales rallied after crossing the whitewash to extend their lead, with a successful conversion to cap it off. Scotland were awarded a penalty and went for the line-out but Wales gained possession of the ball.

Scotland had another line-out and did well to retain possession, allowing outside centre Sutherland to make an epic bolt down the pitch, however she was caught and Scotland conceded a penalty.

A maul off the line-out seven metres out allowed for Wales to get their third try of the game but missed the kick. Too many penalties against Scotland saw no.18, Ella Williams, sent to the sin bin.

Seconds later, fly-half MacColl intercepted Wales’s ball and made a brilliant dash down the pitch from halfway to get Scotland’s first points on the board, with MacColl then converting her own try. With the ball then changing hands a couple times, Scotland got tumbled into touch to bring the game to a conclusion.

Full-time: Scotland 7 – 17 Wales 

Scotland: Lucy MacRae CAPTAIN (Stirling County); Niamh Robertson-Jack (Stirling County); Rianna Darroch (Highland); Faye Sutherland (Edinburgh Harlequins); Dawn Lawrie (Perthshire); Freya MacColl (Stirling County); Rebekah Douglas (Corstorphine Cougars); Chloe Brown (Stirling County); Becca Carroll (Perthshire); Alexi McLeman (Highland); Eva Finnie (Strathmore); Lottie Russell (Stirling County); Emily Coubrough (Biggar); Ellie-Jo Simpson (Perthshire); Megan Hyland (Garioch).

Photos by Miles Myerscough-Harris