Scotland under-18s defeated by Ireland

A new-look Scotland under-18 side took on Ireland in their second match of the U18 International Series in Wales this evening.Only three players remained from the narrow 31-30 defeat to Wales on Friday, with Ben Appleson, Cameron Hutchison and Dan Marek keeping their place in the starting XV.It turned out to be a disappointing evening for the Scots and Ireland raced into an early lead when Daniel Hurley went over and centre James Hume converted.Four minutes later Ireland had a second with Number 8 Caelon Doris scoring from a line-out and Hume adding the extras.Ireland continued to press and got their third after 20 minutes, when scrum-half Jonathon Stewart scored and Hume kicked his third conversion to make it 21-0.A fourth Ireland try followed three minutes before the break when winger Daniel Hurley got his second of the game, but the conversion was missed and Ireland led 26-0 at half-time.Early in the second-half Ireland got their fifth of the evening and second for Doris following an effective line-out drive. The score was unconverted and the Irish led 31-0.Doris got his hat-trick 13 minutes later from another line-out drive and they scored a seventh try from a driving maul at the end of the half to make the final score 43-0 to Ireland.Scotland U18 starting XV: 15. Patrick Anderson (Melrose RFC), 14. Ben Eynon (Strathallan School), 13. Cameron Hutchison (George Heriots School/North Berwick RFC), 12. Fraser Strachan (Bedford School/Northampton Saints), 11. Ben Appleson (The Edinburgh Academy), 10. Kyle Brunton (Hawick Wanderers), 9. Harry Warr (Dollar Academy), 1. Connor Clark, 2. Robbie Smith, 3. Calum Eastwood, 4. Dean Roger, 5. Jack Bruce, 6. Andrew Horne 7. Fergus Haig 8. Dan Marek.Replacements: Paul Cairncross, Ross Dunbar, Euan McLaren, Archie Erskine, Ruari Campbell, Callum Cruickshank, Charlie Gowling, Grant Hughes, Fraser Dingwall, Rory McMichael, Stafford McDowall.U18 International Series Fixtures Friday 25 March: St Helens, Swansea – Wales v Scotland (2.30pm) Tuesday 29 March: Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach – Ireland v Scotland (5.15pm) and Wales v Italy (7.30pm) Saturday 2 April: Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach – Italy v Ireland (11am), Scotland v England (1.30pm)