Under-17s: Scotland 5 - 25 France - Scots outmuscled by mighty French

Scotland Under-17s suffered the first defeat of their season to a physically stronger France side in the final game of a five-match series for the hosts at Philiphaugh yesterday.

So great was the difference in muscle power that Scotland lost well over 50 per cent of their own scrums and line-outs, and were consistently under intense pressure from the seemingly more mature French players. In the circumstances the Scots did well to hold the try count to 3-1, the more so considering that the second French try came from a blatantly forward pass. And the Scots certainly managed to challenge the French defence.

"We asked questions of them in the second-half when we took the ball to them," said Scotland Under-17 coach David Wilson, who saw inside centre Neil Herron post another strong display along with scrum-half Ramsay Young and back five player Cameron Turner.

Scotland, who trailed 0-13 at the break, scored their only try in the second-half from a move started by Herron that was taken on by full-back Ruairidh Young, ending with replacement full-back Tom Moncur touching down.

Scorers: Scotland U17: Try: T Moncur. France U17: Tries: Bouyxou, Fickou, Serin. Cons: Serin (2). Pens: Serin (2).

Scotland U17s: R Young (Loretto School/Musselburgh); D Hoyland (James Gillespie HS/Boroughmuir), B Hutchinson (Longridge Towers/Melrose Wasps), N Herron (Jordanhill School), S Moncur (St Ambrose College/Sale); B Cooper (Sedbergh), R Young (George Watson's College); D Rae (Marr College/Kilmarnock), S Rendall (Orkney RFC), C Barnes (High School of Glasgow/Glasgow Hawks), D Campbell (Mackie Academy/Mackie RFC), C Turner (Robert Gordon's College), C Simpson (Edinburgh Academy), S McDonald (Dunblane HS/Stirling County RFC), C Dean (Edinburgh Academy). Subs used: P Redmayne (Loudoun Academy/Kilmarnock), J Malcolm (Hutchesons' Grammar/GHA), T Moncur (St Ambrose/Sale), M Bradbury (Oban HS/Oban Lorne).

France U17s: T Bouyxou (Toulouse); K Hamdaoui (La Rochelle), B Perrot (Paris UC), G Ficckou (Toulon), S Parez (Paris UC); S Dimitri (CABBG), B Serin (CABBG); E Lombard-Buret (Toulouse), B Andre (Brive), M Hygonnet (Albi), J Banhaim (USAP), J-B Singer (ASM), Y Camara (Massy), R Molcard (USAP), A Meron (Tours). Subs used: Y Amrouni (Nice), R Ruffenach (Tours), P Maiau (Stade Francais), V Chapon (Racing Club), Y Bastin (LOU), P Abadie (Agen), J Gardey (Colomiers).

Referee: Matt Carley (RFU).