Rugby: Clubs show youngsters how it's done

SCOTLAND club international coach Ally Donaldson saw his team post a morale-boosting 19-0 win over the Scotland Under-20 side at Hallhill then praised the youngsters for their contribution to a hard-fought contest.

Donaldson has trimmed his squad to 25 ahead of the encounter with France at Netherdale on 5 February and, with most of them having no league games due to the weather, he described the match against Eamon John's side as "an invaluable opportunity for us to get most of the squad together and get a game under their belt".

The clubs led 14-0 at the break through tries by Paul Burke and Fraser Thomson, both converted by Scott Wight, and they sealed the win when Fraser Harkness touched down for try No.3 in the second half.

Donaldson was satisfied with the performance and offered a word of consolation for the Under-20 team, which featured three of his Currie players, saying that John's team had "fronted up very well", against a clubs side that was well served by a powerful pack.

The youngsters will be back in action on the same night as Donaldson's men when they open their Six Nations campaign against France at Inverness.