South Wales Scorpions’ reserves fought hard for a 10-point win over Scotland under 19 in a match that was competitive and played in good spirit throughout.
The Scots must be given credit as it was their first game together as a side, while South Wales showed that the future of the club is in good hands with a number of good individual performances that led to a fine collective team performance.
Scotland took the lead on 14 minutes with a Miles Wakeling try in the corner that went unconverted.
But four minutes later, an excellent run and try from Lewys Willacott levelled the scores. Ben Jones converted well to make it 6-4 before a strong burst from kick-off from Ethan Coombes gave him a try under the sticks and Jones converted again.
Scotland hit back with a Darren Bell try in the corner that Luke Walters converted but the kicker was then controversially sinbinned for accidental offside leaving both sets of coaches with the referee’s decision.
But with 12 men, Scotland fought back and led after a try with the last play of the first half, Jordan Gray scoring the corner and Matt Hogg converting for a 16-12 lead.
They were leading for less than 30 seconds as in the first set of the second half, Shane Lee scored in the corner and Jones converted.
Lee didn’t celebrate for long as within two minutes he went from scorer to sinbin as he saw yellow for a high tackle, respectfully apologising to the Scotland coach on his way off.
This time it was Scorpions’ turn to score with a man less. An excellent run and try from Willacott down the wing for his side and Jones converted well from the touchline, making it 24-16.
Scotland’s Wakeling was sent over from close range for his second try which went unconverted but Lloyd Selby-Smith finishes off a good move to seal the victory 10 minutes from time. Another good conversion from Jones kept up his 100% record with the boot.
SCOTLAND U19
1 Findlay Graham – Edinburgh Eagles
2 Darren Bell – Strathmore Silverbacks
3 Declan Miller – Easterhouse Panthers
14 Miles Wakeling – Elmbridge Eagles
5 Patrick Noutch – Wath Brow Hornets
12 Max Hutcheon – Easterhouse Panthers
7 Matthew Hogg – Edinburgh Eagles
8 Toby Williams © – Coventry Bears
9 Luke Walters – Leeds Beckett University
15 Connor Meikle – Easterhouse Panthers
19 Luke Drummond – Elmbridge Eagles
4 Jack Wilson – Strathmore Silverbacks
17 Billy Gaylor – Halifax RLFC
SUBS
11 George Kinnaird – Coventry Bears
10 Cameron Harrison – Edinburgh Eagles
18 Ewan McGuire – Strathmore Silverbacks
6 Jordan Gray – Aberdeen Warriors
20 Archie Andrade – Aberdeen Warriors
Tries: Wakeling (14, 62), Bell (27), Gray (40)
Goals: Walters 1/3, Hogg 1/1
SCORPIONS RESERVES
7 Rhys Gant
5 Lewys Willacott
1 Ben Jones C
11 Lloyd Selby-Smith
4 Liam Silver
19 Cobi Green
17 Fraser Stroud
8 Ethan Coombes
9 Macauley Harris
10 Jake Thomas
21 Lewis Hughes
16 Josh Barden
15 Huw Parks
SUBS
6 Shane Lee
2 Brandon Lamb
20 George Lenton-Hall
18 Sam Buckthought
Tries: Willacott (18, 48), Coombes (20), Lee (41), Selby-Smith (69)
Goals: Jones 5/5
Referee: Michael Mannifield (England)
Half-time: 16-12
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