| AUDIO INTERVIEW: FIESTY FRENCH SCUPPER SCOTS |
| Sunday, 01 May 2011 | |
|
Scotland under-17 5 - 25 France under-17 In the fifth and final fixture of their short season, Scotland's under-17s suffered their first defeat, at the hands of a powerful French pack at Philiphaugh this afternoon. Head coach Davey Wilson said: "Ultimately, we just weren't good enough and we have to take it on the chin. The harsh reality was our set-piece didn't function as well as we would have liked and at scrum time and line-outs we struggled." Listen to Wilson on the game and read on below for a match report
Listen to head coach Davey Wilson here: Wilson added: "It's been a huge learning curve for these boys from the first training session on 25 March to now and they can be really proud of themselves and what they've achieved. They can go away and reflect on where they need to improve on as individuals." Scotland kicked off into the sun at a scorching Philiphaugh and within minutes were recipients of the first penalty, the long-range attempt by stand-off Ben Cooper bouncing off the upright. The ball rebounded back into play and the Scots kept up the pressure on the French with all the action in the first ten minutes centred around the French 22. A break from France was well recovered with the ball cleared safely into touch by Cooper however it was the visitors who put the first points on the board with a penalty from their scrum half Baptiste Serin after 15 minutes. Penalty ping-pong continued when Cooper had another chance for Scotland to put points on the board after the French were penalised for holding on - his kick, from the halfway line had the distance but just went wide. On 25 minutes, France were awarded a penalty for handling in the ruck, Serin again slotting the kick to put France ahead 0-6. Good hands followed by another advantage to the Scots saw the ball kicked to touch on the French 22, but the sustained pressure couldn't be turned into points and a break down the wing saw the French full back, Thomas Bouyxou, dot down between the uprights at the other end of the pitch, the score converted by Serin shortly before the half-time whistle. (HT - 0-13) Barely had the teams run on for the second half than the French sprung their attack, centre Gael Fickou taking his chance to run for the whitewash. Serin's conversion attempt floated to the left but the French were now 0-18 ahead. At the restart a great break from Neil Herron saw the ball return to him as the Scots forged their way down the field for substitute Tom Moncur to cross the line, the conversion coming up short.(5-18) The French pack retaliated, pushing their way upfield and causing errors from the home side as a fumbled ball led to the third French try, Serin converting his own score to put them 5-25 ahead going into the final fifteen minutes and staying as the final score. Scotland under-17 v France under-17, Sunday 1 May at Selkirk RFC 15 Ruairidh Young (Loretto School / Musselburgh) *
Substitutes (all used) * Member of Performance Player Development Programme supported by Institute of Sport Network RBS Man of the match: Baptiste Serin Referee: Matt Carley (RFU) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
