Edinburgh Academy 42 - 5 North Berwick HS: Academy turn on the style

Any hopes of a state school reaching the semi final of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Under-18 Cup were crushed on Saturday as title holders Edinburgh Academy turned on a skilful display of running rugby to overwhelm North Berwick High School.

Academy, whose pack has benefited from advice by former Edinburgh professional, Simon Cross, ruled the forward exchanges and behind the scrum their backs used a steady supply of ball to open up the North Berwick defence.

"I was happy with the way we moved the ball today," said Academy coach Mark Appleson. "North Berwick, however, played their part in a fast game."

Academy had key players in national under-18 squad scrum half, Alex Glashan, No 8 Cameron Simpson and stand-off Matthew Zegleman, normally an inside centre.

Glashan's swift service and darting runs caused constant problems for North Berwick High School, while Simpson set up several scores with his intelligent play.

North Berwick's cause was not helped when their stand-off, Fraser Flockhart, suffered a serious leg injury after only three minutes. Academy ran in eight tries, four of them scored by winger Freddie Smith, answered by a second-half touchdown from North Berwick.

Scorers: Edinburgh Academy: Tries: Smith (4), Farndale, Glashan, Simpson, Thomson; Con: Heaney. North Berwick HS: Try: Johnston.

Edinburgh Academy: D November; J Farndale, C Dean (captain), S Heaney, F Smith; M Zegleman, A Glashan; J Haining, T Normand, D Falkner, D Forbes, A Inwood, C Thomson, J MacLean, C Simpson.

North Berwick HS: C Johnston; L Gardner, M Lewis, A Elder, T Jeffries; F Flockhart, A Smith; O Mathews, Scott Purves (captain), K Forrest, F Stevenson, Steven Purves, M Thorburn, G Anderson, A Henry.