Scotland Under-19s 30-25 France Under-19s: Famous win over mighty French

SCOTLAND scored only their second win over France at Under-19 level in a hugely impressive all round performance at Braidholm yesterday to end their short international season undefeated.

After a miserable season as Under-18s last season, this group of players have turned into a formidable squad, the real test of which will come next season when they are pitched into the Under-20 programme of ten international matches.

"We're not the biggest team so we had to play inventive rugby against France. In the event we played with what I described as a 'Scottishness'. That was about chaos in defence," said Scotland Under-19 head coach Bob McKillop.

France scored first from a Jules Plisson penalty goal. But once Scotland adjusted to the physicality of the game, they took the lead with two penalty goals from man-of-the-match Duncan Weir.

Glasgow Hawks' impressive winger Kerr Gossman raced in for the game's opening try, converted by Weir who then added a penalty and drop goal for a 19-6 lead but flanker Pierre Julienne crossed the line to cut the margin.

A second Weir drop goal and another penalty stretched the Scots lead, but

France hit back with a try from prop Sebastien Vahaamaina, converted by Plisson. Scotland responded with a try by Danny Gilmour. France cut the gap with a converted Pierre Berard try but despite a huge French effort on the Scots line, the home side held on for a famous victory.

Scorers: Scotland Under-19s: Tries: Gossman, Gilmour. Con: Weir. Pens: Weir (4). Drop Goals: Weir (2).

France Under-19: Tries: Julienne, Vahaamaina, Berard. Cons: Plisson (2). Pen: Plisson. Drop Goal: Plisson.

Scotland Under-19s: Glenn Bryce (Stirling County); Michael Doneghan (Stewart's Melville FP), Danny Gilmour (Stirling County), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Hawks), Kerr Gossman (Glasgow Hawks); Stuart Edwards (captain, Stirling County), Stevie Turnbull (Hamilton); Nick Fraser (Boroughmuir), David Cherry (Edinburgh Academicals), Steve Quigley (Hull Ionians), Blair McPherson (Ayr), Robert McAlpine (West of Scotland), James Tyas (Brighton College) , Robbie Boswell (Stirling County), Cammy Orr (Boroughmuir). Subs used Duncan Morrison (North Walsham),George Hunter (Glasgow Hawks), Andrew Kirkland (Glasgow Hawks), Gregor Hunter (Gala), Craig Jackson (Melrose), Hamish Watson (Oakham School).

Referee: E O'Dowd (Ireland).