Rugby: Tom browned off at defeat but insists Scots are on up

In the first half, the Scots made most of the running, building up the 17-point advantage after 39 minutes. However, Ireland went straight up the other end and scored a try of their own before the break and were dominant in the second 40 minutes as they went on to lift the Dalriada Cup.

Brown, who was winning his second cap, said afterwards: "We are all really down because we know it is a game that we could, and perhaps should, have won.

"In the first half, we showed more composure and played some nice stuff and seemed to be on top but once their forwards got some go forward they just kept coming at us and we struggled to contain them."

Despite the loss, which was the Scots' first ever at home since this format began back in 2006, 20-year-old Brown has enjoyed being part of the club international scene over the past couple of months and believes it is a great part of the make-up of Scottish rugby.

"The squad have gelled really well and, by being involved, it has just reiterated for me just how much quality we have in our club game. Myself and the other young players who have come in have learned a lot from some of the more experienced guys and I hope I can pick up more caps at this level in the coming seasons."

The squad was coached by Currie's head man Ally Donaldson and, like Brown, he was disappointed at full-time.

He explained: "We know that we could have won the match, we gave ourselves a platform to build on and then seemed to let Ireland take control of things in the second half. We struggled to deal with the pick and drives from their forwards and it was frustrating to come away defeated.

"Once again this season, I have loved being part of the club international and I really do believe that Scottish club rugby is on a high right now, what with the standard of our league, teams being involved in the British & Irish Cup and being involved at this level."

Scotland had got off to a dream start on a wet night in the Borders when, within the first 60 seconds, centre Dean Kelbrick charged down a clearance kick and fellow centre Ross Curle grabbed the loose ball and touched down underneath the posts.

It got even better for Scotland in the 17th minute when they went 10-0 to the good thanks to a penalty by stand-off Scott Wight, who soon after made it 13-0 after an incident that saw Irish hooker Richie Sweeney sin-binned. When Sweeney returned to the fray, Scotland had their own man - Currie scrum-half Richard Snedden - harshly yellow carded for kicking the ball away after an infringement and there was a mad four-minute spell before half-time.

In those four minutes, Scotland scored seven points and Ireland eight as the hosts went into the break 20-8 to the good.

The visitors started the second period with their tails up and it only took them eight minutes to reduce the arrears to 20-15, captain Frank Cogan muscling his way over for a converted try.

Six minutes later, Ireland went ahead for the first time on the night when second-row Simon Crawford - who had scored their first try at the end of the first half - went over again and it was 22-20 to them.

In this end-to-end affair, a Wight penalty gave Scotland a slender one-point lead soon after but, in the 64th minute, a penalty from Ireland stand-off Barry Kesshan once again put them in front and their fourth try came with seven minutes to go. That meant that despite a late try by Scotland second-row Damien Kelly, Brown and Co were left dejected.

Scorers:

Scotland Club XV: Tries: Curle 2, Kelly. Pens: Wight 3. Cons: Wight 3.

Ireland Club XV: Tries: Crawford 2, Cogan, Slattery. Pens: Keeshan 2. Cons: Keeshan 3.

Scotland Club XV: T Brown; F Thomson, R Curle, D Kelbrick , D Fife; S Wight, R Snedden; G Reid, E Milligan, B McNeil, R McKay, D Kelly J Dalziel,R Weston, R Colhoun. Subs used: Alan Dymock, F Gillies, A Dunlop.

Ireland Club XV: J O'Brien; J Cleary, E Moloney, E Ryan, D Mongan; B Keeshan, M D'Arcy; J Ryan, R Sweeney, C Condon, S Crawford, P Donnellan, H Hogan, F Cogan, B O'Mahony. Subs used: G Slattery, L Og Murphy, D Hall, G Hurley.

Referee: S Penne.