Scotland Under-20s 27 - 3 Tonga Under-20s: Win over Tonga restores young Scots' confidence

AFTER two debilitating defeats Scotland rediscovered a winning formula to score an impressive win over Tonga in Paraná, Argentina yesterday, giving the Scots a third finishing place in Pool C of the IRB Under 20 World Championship.

The Scots had sought a win to restore confidence in the squad but had also hoped for a bonus point victory to banish the possibility of relegation from the top tier of 12 countries who will take part in the next year's competition.

In the event Scotland fell one short of their try target, but their tally of three touchdowns nevertheless represents a good haul against a side that fronted up well against South Africa in the opening round of the championship.

Scotland led 13-0 at half time with two penalties by stand-off Duncan Weir and his conversion of a try from centre Jonny Kennedy. Tonga hit back after the break with a penalty from scrum-half Many Soatame but those were the final points from the south sea islanders.

Heriot's and former Musselburgh flanker Michael Maltman crashed over for Scotland's second try converted by Weir, who added the extras to the Scots' third touchdown from skipper Stuart McInally in injury time to complete a rehabilitating performance.

The countries are now divided into three blocks of four for the final two rounds. The top four comprise the winners of the three pools and the best placed second team, who will contest for overall finishing places 1-4 in the last two rounds.

The next four countries will battle for the 5-8 places and the process is repeated for the third group who will sort out the 9-12 positions. Scotland are ranked 9th at the end of the pool stages.

Scotland Under-20s:

T Brown (Edinburgh Accies); M Tait (Newcastle Falcons), J Kennedy (Sale Sharks), A Dunbar (Glasgow), D Fife (Currie); D Weir (Glasgow), A Black (Leeds Carnegie); A Kent (London Scottish), A Walker (Currie), N Little (Hawick), D Denton (Edinburgh Accies), G Gilchrist (Stirling County), R Harley (West of Scotland), M Maltman (Heriot's), S McInally (Watsonians, captain). Subs: A Fedorciow (Bath), G Hunter (Glasgow Hawks), C Stidston-Nott (London Scottish), R Weir (Loughborough Students), M Scott (Currie), J Johnstone (Currie), C MacBurnie (Moseley)

Tonga Under-20s:

S Piutau; J Morath, G Moala, E Lolohea, O Katoa; V Sa, M Soatame; M Latu, P Vi, D Fe'ao, A Pinomi, N Moala, S Tuku'afu (captain), O Finau, T Sekona. Substitutes used: S Hopo Manu, L Tongamoa, J Fosi'iahi, S Aho, S Tu'a, M Toleke, P Falepapalangi.

Referee: N Pearce (Australia).