Scotland U19 7-24 Scottish Students

The Scotland U19 Development Squad were beaten 24-7 by Scottish Students this afternoon at Inverleith. Despite winning the second half in what was a spirited performance from Scotland, they were not able to trouble the visitors who had the game all but won in the first half after scoring four tries without response. The game was one of two to be played for the development side, offering the players the opportunity to put their name in the hat for selection for the U20s Scotland squad, which will compete at the World Rugby Championship in Georgia in May. Speaking after the game, Scotland U19 Head Coach Don Caskie said: “It was a great test for us.  Trying to match the student’s physically in the wet and windy conditions was a challenge, but I was pleased with their efforts.  I thought our second half performance was encouraging.” Scottish Students got off to a flying start, scoring within the first two minutes of the game. Early pressure resulted in a clean break from Finlay Simpson and a good support run and finish from Theo Nwso-Hope allowed the students to open the scoring.  After spending the first 10 minutes defending in their own half Scotland U19 managed to get themselves downfield and were unfortunate not to score – their scrum letting them down just five metres out from the Scottish Students try line. But two tries in two minutes from the visitors saw the game slip away from the young Scots. Patient build-up play from the University select forwards allowed Rob Lind to drive over the line in the corner, before Adam Greig touched down under a minute later in the same corner in similar fashion. Stand-off Scott Docherty missed the first conversion out wide but did well to adjust his radar and kick the second. The students scored their fourth try on the stroke of half time. Nick Stephen did well to off-load to Robbie Kent after a lung-busting break from halfway. The Edinburgh University student finished well and dived over on the far side. Docherty’s conversion was wide so the teams went in at half-time with Scottish Students leading 24-0. The sun came out in the second-half and playing with the wind behind them the U19s performance brightened up too. Don Caskie made a number of changes at half-time and they proved effective. Substitute Robbie Yourston split a gap in the students defence and touched down to score his sides first points of the day. A simple conversion was added taking the score to 7-24.  Despite both having chances, neither side was able to add to their points tally in challenging conditions and Scottish Students ran out 24-7 winners. The U19’s next fixture comes next month when they play an U18 Scotland side.TeamsScotland U19 : Ben Appleson; Kyle Rowe; Jake Hennesy; Will Hunt; Logan Trotter; Kyle Brunton ; Harry Warr ; Finn Hobbis ; Jack Samuel; Finlay Richardson; Dean Rodger; Jamie Hodgson; Ryan Sweeny; Harry Henderson; Angus HintonSubstiutes: Bradley Clements; Shaun Gunn; Jamie Ross; George Bordill; Kaleem Baretto; Gary Munro; Robbie Yourston; Ben Enyon; Jack Paterson Scottish Students: Lyall Archer; Jonny Spence; Archie Winnington-Ingram; Theo Nwosu-Hope; Finlay Simpson; Rob Lind; Nick Stephen; Fraser Christie; Sam Bullock; Scott Docherty; Adam Greig; Toby Hall; Morgan Ward; Robbie Kent; Jon PriceSubstitutes: Callum Simpson; Amos Marawa; Ashton Squires; Hugh Browne; Finn Murphy; Jamie Loomes; Roland Walker