Young Scots Pipped In Championship Opener

SCOTLAND UNDER-19 6 FRANCE UNDER-19 11 Scotland Under-19s were pipped by France in their opening match of the IRB Under 19 World Championships in Belfast tonight, losing 11-6 to a late French try having been drawn for most of the match. SCOTLAND UNDER-19 6 FRANCE UNDER-19 11 Scotland Under-19s were pipped by France in their opening match of the IRB Under 19 World Championships in Belfast tonight, losing 11-6 to a late French try having been drawn for most of the match. France were first to score with a penalty after three minutes from full back Mathieu Belie. The Scots equalised through inside centre Stephen McColl after 19 minutes, taking the teams level for the remainder of the first half. Scotland took the lead six minutes into the second period from McColls second penalty before Belie brought France level at 6-6 after 53 minutes. The game looked destined for a draw but with just eight minutes left on the clock No 8 Raphael Lakafia touched down for 11-6. Scotland Under-19 coach Peter Wright said: I thought the players played exceptionally well and deserved at least a draw. We dominated the game for periods and we certainly got the better of them at times so its disappointing from that point of view. Ive certainly seen improvement from this side and tonight was a real team effort. Our lineouts worked really well and we created opportunities for ourselves. We need to carry that on to the match against Ireland on Monday. Its a fast and ferocious tournament with quick turnarounds between games so well have a day off then regroup and access the way forward, he added. Scotland Under-19 take on Ireland on Monday (9 April), kick-off 7.30pm. SCOTLAND UNDER-19: Harry Duthie (Harrogate); Lee Jones (Selkirk), Chris Kinloch (Fettes College/Edinburgh Academicals and ESIS)*, Stephen McColl (Dunfermline and TFIS)*, Tom Bury (Edinburgh Academicals); Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors, Cartha Queens Park and WSIS)*, Ross Samson (Newcastle Falcons/Tynedale); Gary Strain (Dalziel), Adrian Duncan (Stewart’s Melville FP), Joe Stafford (Glasgow Warriors, Hillhead/Jordanhill and WSIS)*, Neale Patrick (Dunfermline), Josh Brown (Bristol/Filton College), Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh Rugby, Dunfermline and TFIS)* CAPTAIN, Kevin Bryce (Glasgow Warriors, Stirling County and CIS)*, Alexandre Wukovits (Bègles Bordeaux) Substitutes used: Craig Simmonds (Dalziel) for Patrick (52mins), Angus Dixon (Aberdeen GSFP) for Strain (46mins), Steven Burton (Currie) for Bryce (62mins) Substitutes remaining: FORWARDS: Craig Charters (Hawick), Ralph McInally (Perthshire), Lewis Niven (Edinburgh Academicals/Trinity Academicals) BACKS: Murray Allan (Stewart’s Melville FP), Ruairidh Bonner (Edinburgh Academicals), James Murray (Edinburgh Academicals), Matthew Heeks (London Scottish and St Marys Twickenham), Jonny Smart (Dunfermline) * = National Academy player ESIS ” East of Scotland Institute of Sport TFIS” Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport WSIS ” West of Scotland Institute of Sport CIS ” Central Institute of Sport