Scotland Clubs IV 19 - 0 Scotland Under-20s: Under-20s undone by strength of Clubs select

SNOW and ice have made it a frustrating preparation period for Scotland's Club and under-20 sides ahead of their respective matches against France next month, but with Dunbar's winter-resistant ground playable the two teams achieved an essential work-out on Saturday.

In the event the Clubs XV had the firepower to overcome a dynamic under-20 side, in no small part due to the influence of stalwarts Ross Weston, Damien Kelly and John Dalziel.

"We had a good blend of experience and sheer bulk in the pack but even so I thought the 20s fronted up very well," said the Scotland Clubs coach, Ally Donaldson.

Inevitably there were players unavailable for the game but if anything it affected the under-20s more. "There were 15 from our group of 30 unavailable," revealed Scotland under-20s coach, Eamon John, listing among others backs Michael Tait, Alex Dunbar, Alex Blair and in the forwards Michael Maltman, Grant Gilchrist, Nicky Little and Colin Philips.

Whether they would have made much difference to the outcome is a moot point.

"We hit a brick wall in physicality," stated John, disappointed that his talented backs had only limited opportunities.

Even so Caithness scrum-half Kris Hamilton impressed as a second-half replacement, to complement good performances from Stuart McInally, Rob Harley, Matthew Scott and Ross Aitken. For the Clubs, Currie centre Andy McMahon, coming on as a replacement, and not in the originally selected squad, may have made a late bid.

Tries by flanker Paul Burke and winger Callum Anderson both converted by stand-off Scott Wight gave the Clubs side a 14-0 interval advantage but in a more competitive second half in which the best effort from the under-20s came from Scott, the Clubs team sealed their win with a late try from Fraser Harkness.

Scorers: Scotland Clubs: Tries: Burke, Anderson, Harkness. Cons: Wight (2).

Scotland Clubs XV: F Harkness (Selkirk); C Anderson (Melrose), J Murray (Melrose), J King (Melrose), F Thomson (Melrose); S Wight (Melrose), R Snedden (Currie); G Reid (Ayr), S Burnett (Heriot's), A Hamilton (Currie), D Kelly (Ayr), R McKay (Glasgow Hawks), J Dalziel (Melrose), P Burke (Ayr), R Weston (Currie). Subs used: J Cox (Currie), S Sutherland (Ayr), A Dunlop (Ayr), G Wood (Watsonians), J Hunter (Glasgow Hawks), S Hendrie (Selkirk), A McMahon (Currie), A Reekie (Currie).

Scotland U20: T Brown (Edinburgh Acads); R Drummond (Edinburgh Acads), O Grove (Worcester), M Scott (Currie), D Fyfe (Currie); R Aitken (Howe of Fife), A Black (Leeds Carnegie); C Owensen (Heriot's), A Walker (Currie), J Low (GHA), R Harley (West of Scotland), A Hall (Newcastle Falcons), C Thomson (Loughborough University), C Stidston-Nott (London Scottish), S McInally (Watsonians). Subs used: L Pettie (Melrose), G Hunter (Glasgow Hawks), L Gibson (Melrose), C Taylor (Glasgow Hawks), M Fedo (Watsonians), A Kirkland (Glasgow Hawks), R Sutherland (Stewart's-Melville), K Grossman (Glasgow Hawks), D Gilmour (Stirling County).

Referee: K White.