STUDENT FOUR NATIONS – GAME 1 SCOTLAND 12 WALES 56

By Ian Golden, at Edinburgh University.

Wales eased to a 56-12 win over Scotland this evening in the opening game of the Student Four Nations.

 

With a new young side, Wales went into the game unsure of their strength but the host nation were no match for the mighty Dragons.

 

The first try came after just six minutes when Curtis Davies sent Tom Morgan crashing over the line. Marcus Webb converted.

 

From the next set after kick-off the lead was doubled after Fraser Robinson scored off an inside ball from Curtis Davies, Webb converted again.

 

Then on 15 minutes, Wales spread it wide to Lloyd Selby-Smith who went over out on the left, Webb missing the kick.

 

Straight after that, Lewys Willacott intercepted, linking with two Welsh players and finished off his own break, Webb converted.

 

Wales didn’t hold back. Alec Wheatley grabbed his own grubber and laid on Robinson for his second try. Webb converted and it was 28-0 on 20 minutes.

 

In the 28th minute, Wheatley dummied through the line and set up Lewys Hughes for the next try which Webb improved.

 

Finally, just before the break, the home side had something to shout about when Scotland spread it wide on the left and scored through Craig Robertson. Scott Plumridge couldn’t convert. 34-4 to Wales at half-time.

 

Two minutes into the second half, Wales extended their lead to 40-4 when Sion Jones broke the line and found the supporting Connor Davies who scored. Webb converted.

 

Six minutes later,  Wheatley broke through and Ieuan Jones dived on his kick. Webb couldn’t land the extras.

 

Just before the quarter hour mark of the second half Scotland struck back again, spreading the ball left with Plumridge dummying through the line to score but unable to convert his own try.

 

Wales addressed the balance a few minutes later, shifting the ball right to Ieuan Jones who strolled in to score, Matt Davies missed the conversion.

 

Scotland weren’t finished yet. Luice Walters darted from dummy half and wrestled through to score.. Again Plumridge couldn’t convert leaving them 48-12 down.

 

But Wales finished as they started, on a high, scoring twice in the last ten minutes. First, a great inside ball sent Cobi Green through a hole finding Lewys Hughes on his outside. Matt Davies missing the kick.

 

Finally, Sion Jones ran 70 metres from a scrum to score a great try but new kicker Green again couldn’t add an extra two points.

 

But it was still an outstanding win for Wales who now face Ireland on Wednesday before taking on England on Saturday.

 

The opening game of the tournament saw England beat Ireland 52-4.

 

SCOTLAND

1 Finlay Hutchinson

5 Craig Robertson

17 Charlie Leask

13 Scott Plumridge

14 Nigel Kelly

6 Doug Heseltine

7 Jamie Park

10 Sam Heron

9 Luke Walters

8 Toby Williams

11 James Hassel

2 Fionn O’Donnell

12 Dan Turland (C)

4 Scott Derrick

Subs:

18 Tom Plance

15 Niall Hall

3 Gregg Hamilton

19 Cameron Harrison

 

Tries: Robertson (40), Plumridge (54), Walters (68)

Goals: Plumridge 0/3

 

WALES

1 Fraser Robinson

2 Lewis Hughes

3 Ieuan Jones

4 Lloyd Selby-Smith

5 Lewys Willacott

6 Marcus Webb

7 Curtis Davies

8 Brandon Lamb

9 Liam Rice Wilson

10 Harry Boots

11 Tom Morgan

12 Chris Jones

13 Sion Jones (c)

Subs:

14 Connor Davies

15 Matt Davies

16 Liam Cashman

17 Alec Wheatley

18 Cobi Green

 

Tries: Morgan (6), Robinson (9, 20), Selby-Smith (15), Willacott (18), Hughes (28, 72),  Connor Davies (42), I Jones (48, 62), S Jones (76)

Goals: Webb 6/8, M Davies 0/2, Green 0/1