Scottish fans
Scotland’s under-18 side bounced back in some style from last weekend’s defeat to score a stunning, 26-21 victory over their English counterparts, away, at Headingley Carnegie, Leeds this afternoon.
Scotland’s under-18 side put in a mammoth effort all round to pull off the win in the FIRA/AER European Championship match.
The home side led 21-13 at half time but a tremendous second half from the visitors saw England defeated at this level for only the second time in the last three years.
Two penalties from Sam Hidlago Clyne plus a try from Keith Buchan in the first half kept Scotland in contention before the second half saw a blistering interception from sub Tommy Allan which he ran for over 50 metres before dotting down. Jamie Farndale then scored, further penalties and a conversion from Hidalgo Clyne adding the extras points.
A delighted head coach, Grant McKelvey said: “The side stuck to the game plan that they themselves had had a big part in putting together and handled England’s physicality really well. The boys applied pressure at every point in the game and together with their huge work ethic, pulled off a great result.
“We have to make note of Jamie Farndale who scored the winning try, coming off the bench. He had already saved us from a couple of scoring opportunities for England before he crossed the line himself. Tommy Allan and Sam Hidalgo Clyne controlled the game very well and the front five were tremendous.
“What we need to do now is back this up with a win against Ireland next week to get us through to the final stages of the tournament.”
Speaking after the match, England Head Coach Fletcher said: “We’re disappointed to lose the game. I thought we started quite brightly but we lost our way in the second half. We made a lot of errors and we need to make sure we eradicate them from our play.
“Scotland came here and put us under a lot of pressure and took their opportunities, I thought they were worthy winners.
“I’m interested in seeing how the players respond. Every team in every sport has been beaten at one point or another and it’s how you bounce back from defeat that counts. We’ve got a few weeks before we head over to France for the festival and I’m confident we’ll go out there and give a good account of ourselves.”
ENGLAND
15) Mark Jennings (Myerscough College) (Sale Sharks)
14) Jack Arnott (Ivybridge College) (Exeter Chiefs)
13) Sam Hill (Ivybridge College) (Exeter Chiefs)
12) Henry Slade (Plymouth College) (Exeter Chiefs)
11) Sam Jones (Plymouth College) (Exeter Chiefs)
10) Will Hooley (The Leys School) (Northampton Saints)
9) Alex Day (St Joseph’s College) (Northampton Saints)
1) Alec Hepburn (Henley College) (London Wasps)
2) Scott Spurling (Harrow School) (Saracens)
3) Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College) (Harlequins)
4) Tom Price (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth 1st) (Leicester Tigers)
5) Dom Barrow (C) (Prince Henry’s Grammar School) (Leeds Carnegie)
6) David Sisi (St Paul’s Catholic College) (London Irish)
7) Jack Clifford (RGS Guildford) (Harlequins)
8) Matt Hankin (Haileybury College) (Saracens)
Replacements: (all featured)
16) Nathan Morris (Sedbergh School) (London Wasps)
17) Tom Smallbone (Harrow School) (London Irish)
18) Danny Herriott (Moulton College) (Northampton Saints)
19) Tom Jubb (Oaklands College) (Saracens)
20) Joe Buckle (Bryanston) (Bath Rugby)
21) James Lightfoot-Brown (St Paul’s Catholic College) (London Irish)
22) Marcus Webber (Manchester Grammar) (Leeds Carnegie)
23) Tom Stephenson (Moulton College) (Northampton Saints)
SCOTLAND TEAM
15 Josh Welsh (Selkirk)
14 Corey Venus (Leicester College / Leicester Tigers)
13 Robbie Fergusson (Ayr)
12 Chris Auld (Dumfries / Austin Friars School)
11 Matthew Lamb (Stirling County)
10 Sam Hidalgo Clyne (Merchiston Castle School)
9 Cameron Meakin (Exeter Chiefs / Ivybridge College)
1 Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County)
2 Russell Anderson (Langholm)
3 Colin Hutton (Stirling County)
4 Callum Templeton (Dumfries) *
5 Adam Barnett (GHA / Mearns Castle School)
6 Alex Henderson (Strathallan)
7 Stuart Graham (Hawick PSA)
8 Adam Ashe (Stirling County)