Four tries – including two for Player of the Match Freddy Douglas – and one apiece for Nairn Moncrieff and Jack Brown saw Scotland pick up maximum points and end Wales’ title bid. The visitors had Tom Cottle sent off and Logan Franklin given a 20 minute red card in a match that quite simply had everything under the lights in the capital.

Wales had the first sight of the line just after five minutes. Following a Scottish lineout in the attacking half, a knock-on in midfield commenced a kick and chase between Tom Bowen and Fergus Watson as the ball headed for the whitewash. Luckily for the hosts, it was Watson who edged it by a fraction to mop up the danger. Just moments later he was there again to hold up Ioan Emmanuel on the line as the visitors pushed for the opening score.

Wales found themselves in the corner again after a penalty for Oliver Duncan’s off the ball tackle. From the lineout the visitors carried well, but big tackles from captain Freddy Douglas and Dan Halkon kept them at bay, before a miscued Welsh kick found touch. The dogged Scottish defence was showing its intentions in the early stages.

The Scots were given their first chance to launch an assault after Freddy Douglas turned over in the centre. Although not quite as rapid as his one inside 30 seconds against England, the flanker was wasting no time getting in on the action. A clean lineout saw some neat short passes, but Matthew Urwin’s clipped pass didn’t quite find the intended target.

A clinical move saw Scotland open the scoring, and again it was that man Freddy Douglas who was at the forefront of it to put his side ahead. Quick play out the back of the ruck saw Reuben Logan make a huge carry. As Noah Cowan plucked the ball from beneath the bodies, in steamed Douglas on a short support line to collect and charge over unchallenged to send Hive into raptures. Urwin’s kick was pinpoint. (7-0, 19 mins)

The visitors were reduced to fourteen players after a 20 minute red card was given to scrum-half Logan Franklin, who cleared out Nairn Moncrieff in the ruck. After discussion with his TMO, referee Katsuki Furuse had no option but to end Franklin’s night for a croc roll which he believed had a high degree of danger. After a bright opening quarter of an hour from the Welsh, the momentum had shifted.

Kenny Murray’s side had their second try of the evening just two minutes later, and the scorer couldn’t have been more fitting. After being on the receiving end of Franklin’s tackle, Nairn Moncrieff dusted himself down to add to Scotland’s tally with what was almost a walk-in. Scotland’s lineout was again smooth, before Kerr Yule and Jack Brown moved the ball wide right  to the lurking Moncrieff. He gathered before striding over, finishing emphatically. This time Urwin’s conversion lacked the draw to find the posts. (12-0, 28 mins).

Despite being a man down, Wales rallied and got themselves on the board. An unfortunate Urwin knock-on allowed Wales to rumble forward from the lineout. After a couple of phases, Ioan Emmanuel saw the ball break loose to him, and with one drop of the shoulder he was able to powerfully hit the line. Harri Wilde found a peach of a kick to add the extras. (12-7, 32 mins).

Scotland weren’t put off their stride and were soon five metres out through Jack Brown’s wand of a right boot. A squint lineout from the visitors saw the ball break loose and the ball was sharply moved out the back door to Urwin. If Jack Brown’s kick was pinpoint, Urwin’s was just as good to find Moncrieff on the right. The winger majestically leapt to gather and offload to the onrushing Jack Brown to gleefully  complete a stunning team play. Urwin found the distance with the kick to restore the advantage. (19-7, 35 mins).

Wales were given a hammer blow seconds after the restart as second-row Tom Cottle was dismissed for what was a clear high tackle on Noah Cowan. With no attempt to charge the ball and significant contact with Cowan’s head, referee Furuse was left with little choice but to reduce the visitors to thirteen as the sides went into the interval.

Half Time: Scotland U20  19 – 7  Wales U20

As the second half started, Scotland were keen to make the most of the final two minutes of having Wales at thirteen. High pressure forced Harri Wilde to hack into touch and from the lineout Scotland moved well before substitute Hamish MacArthur looked for a line break. Play shifted from side to side through the phases before Welsh captain Harry Beddall thwarted the home effort with a commanding turnover. The visiting ranks were replenished to fourteen following the 20 minute red card, through the introduction of Sion Davies.

Wales were literally thrown a lifeline with 25 minutes to go as an overthrown lineout from Seb Stephen gave hooker Harri Thomas an easy finish. Securing his fifth try of the campaign, making him the top scorer, the avoidability of the score will be the thing which will provide the most frustration for Scotland. The visitors brought the margin to within seven points, despite Wilde miscuing the conversion. (19-12, 56 mins).

Scotland edged further ahead with 15 to play after they won an attacking penalty in the shadow of the Murrayfield end posts at Hive Stadium. There was little hesitation amongst the home ranks about going for the three points, which Isaac Coates knocked through with little fuss. (22-12, 65 mins).

The Welsh contingent weren’t about to throw the towel in as they pushed for territory in the Scottish half. Just as when they thought they would have the chance for a lineout five metres from the line, substitute Elis Price sliced his kick for the corner and Scotland were let off. Seconds later Wales came again, but Scotland skipper Freddy Douglas was over the ball once again, relieving his men of some serious pressure.

With little over five to play Scotland put the rubber stamp on the win as they secured their bonus point. A pinpoint lineout in the left corner from Seb Stephen allowed the Scotland maul too rumble onwards. As it hit the line it was that man Douglas in the middle of a flurry of bodies, and he plummeted to the turf for his second of the night, capping an immense individual and team performance. Coates’ kick faded against the angle but Scotland had clear daylight on the scoreboard. (27-12, 75 mins).

The final minutes saw Wales build phases in search of a consolation but as it had done all night, Scotland’s defence held resolutely firm. The visitors were given a penalty on the edge of the home 22, but another sliced search for touch gave Scotland the chance to clean up. As the ball was hoisted high into the Edinburgh night, the Welsh knocked-on and Isaac Coates jubilantly lashed the ball into the sky to bring the tie to a close. It capped a momentous night for Kenny Murray’s side, securing maximum points in the competition for the first time this campaign.

Full Time: Scotland U20  27 – 12  Wales U20

Scotland U20: 15. Jack Brown, 14. Nairn Moncrieff  (both Edinburgh Rugby), 13. Angus Hunter (Heriot’s Rugby), 12. Kerr Yule, 11. Fergus Watson, 10. Matthew Urwin (all Glasgow Warriors), 9. Noah Cowan (Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders); 1. Oliver McKenna, 2. Joe Roberts (both Glasgow Warriors), 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Charlie Moss (Montpellier), 5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors), 6. Oliver Duncan, 7. Freddy Douglas (Captain) (both Edinburgh Rugby), 8. Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints)

Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen (Edinburgh Academical), 17. Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors), 18. Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby), 19. Bart Godsell (Loughborough University), 20. Mark Fyffe (University of Edinburgh), 21. Hamish MacArthur, 22. Isaac Coates (both Edinburgh Rugby), 23. Cameron Van Wyk  (Ayr RFC).

Wales U20: 15. Tom Bowen, 14. Harry Rees-Weldon, 13. Elijah Evans, 12. Steffan Emmanuel, 11. Aidan Boshoff, 10. Harri Ford, 9. Logan Franklin; 1. Ioan Emmanuel, 2. Harry Thomas , 3. Sam Scott, 4. Kenzie Jenkins, 5. Tom Cottle, 6. Deian Gwynne, 7. Harry Beddall, 8. Evan Minto.

Replacements: 16. Evan Wood, 17. Louie Trevett, 18. Owain James, 19. Luke Evans, 20. Caio James, 21. Sion Davies, 22. Harri Wilde, 23. Elis Price.

Player of the Match: Freddy Douglas (Scotland)

Referee: Katsuki Furuse
AR1: Kevin Bralley
AR2:  Evan Urruzmendi
TMO: Olly Hodges