Wales U20 25 - 15 Scotland U20: Young Scots take first-half punishment

Published on Saturday 11 February 2012 04:13

JAMIE Farndale gave coach Peter Wright something to cheer about as he grabbed two tries in the final ten minutes to allow the Scotland Under-20s to salvage some pride in Wales last night.

This may have been their ninth successive Six Nations championship defeat at this level, but a second-half fight back, in which they outscored the home side by two tries to one, was a massive advance on the horror show against England the previous weekend.

That nine-try, 59-3 drubbing was always going to make the trip to Colwyn Bay a tough mental test but, some weak tackling aside, they came through with their pride intact.

The Welsh experiment of taking their three home Under-20 fixtures to north Wales worked a treat on opening night as almost 6,000 fans turned out to get a rare sight of international rugby and the home side responded by going in at the break 18-3 ahead.

That lead built to 28-3 after 62 minutes, when left wing Luke Morgan raced through for his second try. However, Scotland fought back and dominated the closing quarter. The brace of tries from the Edinburgh Accies wing Farndale was well deserved and if the game had gone on for a further five or ten minutes there could have been even more tries.

To his credit, captain Harry Leonard recovered from a poor start, when he blasted two eminently kickable penalties well wide of the mark, and urged his team on with some slick distribution and strong leadership. Instead of shooting for two penalty goals he opted to kick to the corner and it was those bold decisions that the tries came.

Welsh back row Dan Thomas caused havoc for the 68 minutes he was on the pitch and helped himself to ball after ball at the breakdown.

Thomas backed up the chase of a long Sam Davies kick into the Scottish 22 that led to the opening try of the game after 12 minutes. Towering centre Cory Allen was first to challenge Michael Crawley as he gathered close to his line and Thomas helped Wales regain possession. Then it was just a case of two long passes before full back Ross Jones crossed.

Davies couldn’t convert that one, but his prodigious boot accounted for 13 points in the end and his general kicking game caused no end of problems for the visitors.

Leonard made it third time lucky to get Scotland’s only first-half points from 30 metres, but Wales worked Morgan away for his first try before the break and Davies’ conversion made it 18-3. A third Davies penalty kept the scoreboard moving for Wales in the second half before the outside half put Morgan through a tiny gap on the edge of the Scottish 22 to allow the Bridgend wing to cross at the posts. Davies converted.

However, Farndale provided a sting in the tail, and hope for the future, as he pounced for his two tries.

Scorers: Tries: L Morgan 2, R Jones; Con: S Davies 2; Pens: S Davies 3. Scotland U20 Tries: J Farndale 2; Con: H Leonard; Pen: H Leonard.

Wales Under 20: Ross Jones (Ospreys); Iolo Evans (Scarlets), Luke Williams (Dragons), Cory Allen (Blues), Luke Morgan (Ospreys); Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jonathan Evans (Dragons); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Kirby Myhill (Scarlets, captain), WillGriff John (Blues), Matthew Screech (Blues), Rhodri Hughes (Ospreys), Ellis Jenkins (Blues), Daniel Thomas (Scarlets), Ieuan Jones (Dragons). Replacements: Thomas Davies (Blues) for Evans 62; Thomas Young (Blues) for Thomas 68; Dan Crimmins (Cardiff) for Ieuan Jones; Dominic Franchi (Dragons) for Allen 70.

Scotland Under 20: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Heriot’s); Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Rugby), Robbie Fergusson (Ayr), Tommaso Allan (Western Province), Michael Crawley (Boroughmuir); Harry Leonard (Edinburgh Rugby, Captain), Scott Steele (Leicester Tigers); Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County), George Turner (Edinburgh Rugby ), Alex Allan (Loughborough Students), Adam Sinclair (Stirling County), Jonny Gray (Hamilton), Mitch Eadie (Bristol Rugby), Will Bordill (Sale Sharks). Jamie Swanson (Boroughmuir). Replacments: Gavin Robertson (Dundee HSFP) for Allan 21; Andrew Redmayne (Dundee HSFP) for Sinclair 58, Callum Reid (Edinburgh Accies) for Bordill 75; Finn Russell (Falkirk) for Fergusson 53, Matthew Torrance (Ospreys) for Steele 58.

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Teri1514

Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:37 PM

Your telling us that the loosehead from Stirling is playing well? Pffft what game are you watching the lad runs from ruck to ruck with his hands in the air and doesnt do anything, get down and have a look at Shawn Muir play and youl see a prop with a work rate, 15 tackles 12 rucks and 5 ball carrys in the 1st half for Hawick the other week and the lad delivers the same week on week and at 18 is only going to get better! Theres your borders lad who was hard done by never giving a chance to prove his fitness after an early season injury!!!!!!

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Bofalad

Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:01 AM

The key difference between our boys and certainly England, Wales, Ireland and France is not talent but development funding between u18 and u20. That's it. The England result was expected. Have a look at the last years outcome (56-8). They have an annual budget of £3million + for u20. All their boys are professional rugby players. SeniorandSenior has it spot on. Our friends from the Borders deserve special mention. As usual people like you can't back up your ill informed rant with facts. No suggestions of whom from the borders has been hard done by? I'd really love to know! I'm not sure what point you're making about the Stirling County boys. Both are playing v well for the club. As far as the Boroughmuir boys are concerned, they are all regular 1st XV players who are selected when fit. All of them have been playing well for the club. A few facts for you - I asked! Mike Crawley has come back from a serious ankle injury this season and so wouldnt have been on the team sheet before late November. He has been selected for their 1s in every game since his return. Harry Leonard plays for Edinburgh as I'm sure you are aware. If he's not on the team list it's usually because he's playing for Edinburgh. Jamie Swanson is a 1st XV player. If you're going to have a go at least get your facts right.

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Teri1514

Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:08 AM

Here here well said " catch a moose for a geordie" theres atleast 4 young Borderers who should involved with that u20s squad and everyone of them plays for there clubs 1st team and playing well week on weekunlike the 2 lads from Stirling County nds and the 3 lads from Boroughmuir 2nds!

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SeniorandSenior

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 05:54 PM

The young Welsh players are mainly in regional development squads and some of them are in the regional 1st team squads. Only Harry Leonard and Scott Steele of the Scots are operating in that kind of environment. It's a big advantage for the Welsh, who view their U20s as their 2nd tier. So I don't think supporters should be too hard on the Scottish players. We don't have the luxury of 4 well funded regional teams in this country.

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Catch a Moose for Geordie

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 01:53 PM

This is what happens when a team is picked with no Borders representation.....does the world stop at Middleton Moor..........dont get a fair crack of the whip from selectors who favour the Publics and Exiles with debatable family ties

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Lola sport

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:23 PM

The Scottish theme continues so called talent fails to perform again. This team has had a lot of coaching time spent on them, they have had a warm up game against a strong Club International side. A shocking performance against England and a somewhat flattering scoreline against Wales. Something has to change does it not as all observers note, but it does not. For years now it has been the same story puntuated with the very odd good game. Time for major changes all round is upon us - SRU thinking - bring in more exiles. Sad reflection on home talent, coaches and our current system. The Brewin cup finals were great matches to watch and plenty potential talent on display but can it be spotted and nourished?

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tomtom678

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 11:58 AM

Thought the scrum half who came on looked good, looks like he is from the Wales re development.

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Aubrey Wilson

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 10:18 AM

Where one team dominates it is becomingfly increasing hard to simply take the final score as an indication of relative strength because the winning teams makes lots of changes. So it was last night. Wales were trying all sorts of things and many of them didn't come off. But Wales' coach would be a lot happier I think. They just looked so much more creative and dangerous. And it was across the team too, with some of their forward aggression knocking Scotland off the ball. So no drubbing for Scotland this year, and the Scots kept going, but the writing is still on the wall when it comes to the talent spotting at this level.

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Jpatseven

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 08:38 AM

'Young Scots'... Is this the same 'Young Scots" who played the YOUNG English team and the YOUNG Wales team??? no more excuses for age grade please! the Scotland team are no 'younger' than their rivals, just less talented!! Players such as Leonard given far too much hype but unfortunately he is among others in this team who are afforded the same reputation without earning it!

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macstone

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 08:18 AM

Did you actually watch this game? Firstly score was 28-15 to Wales and the only player worth a mention was indeed Jamie Farndale but Harry Leonard again was rubbish and did not game plan at all! Hildago-Clyne should be 10 and not 15 as his skills are not as a fullback! Lucky for Scotland last night that Wales took their foot off the gas in the 2nd half! Just hope tomorrow is a better day in Wales!!

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Teri1514

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 08:14 AM

This age grade level will always struggle as alot of there opponents are on the verge of making it inti there pro squads 1st team were as we only have a handfull off lads who are close to that, playing for Stirling County, Boroughmuir, Dundee's second team on a saturday isnt good enough to compete at this level!

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