Scotland U20 3 - 59 England U20: England run rampant over young Scots

SCOTLAND’S under-20 side were ruthlessly outclassed by their English counterparts, who made their superior experience count on their way to recording a 59-3 rout at Firhill.

Visiting winger Marland Yarde was the undoubted star of the show, his three tries highlighting why he is being touted as an England star of the future.

Scotland made a strong start, with Edinburgh winger Jamie Farndale particularly impressing in the opening exchanges. An early penalty from Harry Leonard gave the hosts a deserved lead, but from then it was one-way traffic as England played with an intensity that could not be matched by their opponents.

Yarde was first to cross the whitewash, squeezing in at the corner after tremendous midfield work from playmaker George Ford. The stand-off added the extras before Yarde turned provider to allow number 8 Jack Clifford to crash over, punishing a string of missed tackles.

London Irish flyer Yarde cantered over twice more in the opening 20 minutes to wrap up his hat-trick, before a dubious penalty try award handed man of the match Ford a straightforward conversion to leave his side leading 3-31 at the break.

The scrum was one particular facet of the game in which England, whose side included a number of players with Premiership experience, were simply a cut above the home side. Their sheer dominance up front suggested that the opening of the floodgates was inevitable, however the hosts’ defence remained firm until midway through the half, when substitute Anthony Walker crossed over the whitewash.

Ford once again stroked over the additional points, before Clifford crossed for his second score of the evening. A late brace from winger Chris Walker, both converted by Ford, rounded off the scoring, emphasising the gulf in class Peter Wright’s charges must breach should they wish to challenge at this level.

Scotland: S Hidalgo-Clyne, J Farndale, M Crawley, T Allan, T Steven, H Leonard, S Steele, R Hislop, F Scott, A Allan, J Gray, A Sinclair, M Eadie, W Bordill, J Swanson.Replacements Used: G Turner, J Bhatti, A Redmayne, C Reid, S Cessford, McConnell, F Russell, J Bradford.

England: B Ransom, M Yarde, E Daly, R Mills, C Walker, G Ford, D Robson, L Cowan-Dickie, K Britton, K Sinckler, T Price, G Merrick, M Kvesic, C Walker, J Clifford. Replacements Used; S Spurling, A Hepburn, R Harrison, E Stooke, W Skuse, A Day, T Heathcote, A Watson

• SCOTLAND ‘A’ vanquished the England Saxons last night with a highly convincing 35-0 win. Tries from Stuart Hogg, Duncan Weir, Matt Scott and Rory Lawson laid the foundations for a solid display, while Weir added 15 points from the boot to give the score added gloss.