U20 World Trophy: Scotland score second century against Hong Kong China

SCOTLAND followed up their record-breaking score against Samoa with another massive points total against Hong Kong China in the second round of the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy. But this second century of points, however impressive,  will stand for nothing  if the Scots cannot translate what should be sky-high confidence into a winning performance against Japan on Friday – a match which looks likely to decide the outcome of the tournament.

In all, Scotland ran in 15 tries, their points total boosted by the accurate goal kicking of stand-off Matthew Urwin, who had thirteen successes in a competent display of conversion attempts. Moreover, Urwin looked assured in the ten jersey and added to his credentials when he twice switched position in the back line after Andy McLean was brought off the bench to occupy the pivot role.

Scotland made a number of changes in the second half, which may have affected continuity. Coach Kenny Murray explained his decision to make these alterations, saying: “Jonny Morris got a hamstring. All the other [injuries]  weren’t too bad. We’d made the decision to manage game time for the likes of  Liam [McConnell] and Freddy [Douglas]. Four games in 15 days is a lot. So if you start with the same players you’ll just run them into the ground.”

If Scotland were able to hone their attacking skills against Hong Kong, then equally important for Murray was how his charges performed in defence. He said: “The big thing for me was that we didn’t allow Hong Kong any points. Hong Kong scored three tries against Japan in round one.  I thought the boys showed some good defence today. When you’re winning by a big margin sometimes the easiest thing to do is to slip off the physicality, but I thought today the physicality was excellent. There was a couple of excellent sets in the second half.”

Scotland had made a number of changes to their side for the Hong Kong game. So which players took their chances? Murray was in no doubt that hooker and former Glenalmond College front-row Seb Stephen had impressed. “I thought Seb was a stand-out. His speed across the pitch and  his set piece. He’s still under-19,” Murray said.

Scotland were expected to be too strong for Hong Kong China and confirmed that view within two minutes of play with a try by Freddy Douglas from a line-out maul. S Urwin converted and then added the extras to a try by winger Finlay Doyle after the fly-half had combined well with his old St Aloysius team-mate Johnny Ventisei to create the score.

Then when skipper Liam McConnell spun out of a tackle and Urwin added the two points bonus the Scots were 21 points ahead in 18 minutes. That total quickly increased following a defence-splitting run and good finishing by back-row Morris.

Urwin made it four from four successes at goal and then continued his unbroken run of successes in front of the posts by adding the extras to a try from Hector Patterson from line-out possession.

Having moved the ball wide for much of the first half, Scotland then reverted to the maul, profiting for a second time in the game with a second try for Douglas. This time Urwin, attempting to convert from near the touchline, just failed to make it six from six after the ball rebounded off the near upright.

A second try for Doyle from a line-out move and Urwin’s conversion kept the scoreboard whirring. Then from the restart Stephen burst clear before sending Doyle in for his hat-trick score.

The Scots finished the first half reduced to 14 men after debutant Ludo Kolade was sent to the sin-bin for an early tackle but that barely took the shine off their 52 points interval advantage.

Despite being down a man Scotland were able to contiof nue with their try-scoring mission, Ventisei rounding off a sweeping move started in the Scots’ own 22m area, and the extras again supplied by Urwin.

Hong Kong were beginning to show signs attacking ability, and might have scored but for a timely tackle from Kerr Yule. Scotland then switched  from defence into scoring mode when Kolade, returning from his spell in the bin, intercepted, but what seemed a certain score was prevented by a skilful ankle tackle. The ball however was scooped up by Morris for the back row to claim his second try.

Urwin converted and then added the extras to tries from Jack Hocking and replacements Fergus Watson and Jerry Blyth-Lafferty. Then for a second time in the game Scotland were down to a crew of 14 after Dylan Cockburn limped off suffering from cramp, and with all the replacements already on, the Scots had to make do with a seven-man forward pack.

The numerical disadvantage slowed the scoring rate but did not stop the flow of points, Kolade finishing off some slick Scots handling with a try under the posts that left Urwin with an easy kick for his 12th conversion and a 94-0 lead.

With the century beckoning Scotland produced their final try, ignited by a strong run from Watson and finished by second-row replacement Ryan Burke, Urwin’s 13th success at goal bringing up the ton plus one.