Match Report: Scotland Men U20 123-15 Samoa U20

A successful line-out turned into a heavy driving maul with Jerry Blyth-Lafferty at the helm. After a few yards of swinging forward Scotland were told to play. The ball was thrown out through the forwards and eventually into the hands of second row Ryan Burke who dropped over the line for the first five points. (5-0)

Shortly after the 11th minute Scotland got their second try when they got into a heavy driving maul that crashed over the line with Jerry Blyth-Lafferty at the helm. Andrew McLean added a conversion to take the score up another seven points. (12-0)

Just three minutes later the young Scots were back on the pitch. A tackle brought the ball to ground just short of the try line, but a cunning gather and stretch from scrum half Conor McAlpine saw him add his name to the scoreboard. Andrew McLean’s boot was good again. (19-0)

After Samoa’s line out was not straight, Scotland opted for a line out of their own. Some excellent hands put the ball in the hands of Andrew McLean who rounded the Samoan full back and dove over the line. He converted his own try. (26-0)

At the restart, Samoa’s Kirisimasi Douglas was shown a yellow card for catching the ball in the air and spent ten minutes in the penalty box.

Samoa scored their first points of the afternoon when they were awarded a penalty for Scotland not rolling. Fullback Panaua Niulevaea added the three points. (26-3)

The young Scots responded quickly and there was more great offloading from Findlay Thomson, Johnny Ventisei and finally Finlay Doyle who sprinted to the line and dived over it. Andrew McLean’s kick was good again. (33-3)

It was Ollie Blyth-Lafferty’s turn to get his name on the scoreboard when the ball came out of the scrum on the left flank and was collected by the 18-year-old who went over the ball for his first try on his debut. Andrew McLean’s boot was the gift that kept on giving and he added the extras. (40-3)

Finlay Doyle was on for his second of the game when a break from Ryan Burke and Johnny Ventisei found the winger with the ball in his hands and he ran over the line from 40 metres. Andrew McLean was again given the kick. (47-3)

The Scots reached the 50-point mark just four minutes later when Finlay Doyle made a break for the free-throw line (and nearly scored his hat-trick), but he passed the ball to Conor McAlpine who found Johnny Ventisei through the back door, which was over. (52-3)

Just a few minutes later the Scots were back on the right side of the pitch. Fergus Watson picked up a loose ball and sprinted to dive over it. Andrew McLean again had pinpoint accuracy to cover. (59-3)

And if things couldn’t get any better, prop Robbie Deans put his foot on the gas just before half-time and made a solid break in front of the line to score on the whistle. McLean converted to complete a 10-try half. (66-3)

Peace: Scotland U20 66-3 Samoa U20

It was only a minute before the Scots scored again. A penalty kicked to the corner saw Jerry Blyth-Lafferty rally behind and fire over the line for his second. (71-3)

It was only a matter of time before Finlay Doyle would score his hat-trick on the wing. After a break from Andrew McLean, captain Liam McConnell fuelled up the pitch and passed the ball to Doyle who was over. Conor McAlpine took over kicking duties and was successful. (78-3)

In the 48th minute Samoa secured their first try of the afternoon when a penalty was awarded when Scotland were offside just before the line. Totoa Auvaa applied pressure and weaved through the defence to fire the ball home. (78-8)

Samoa were given another penalty for offside and the Scots kicked to the corner. The ball was collected from the successful line out maul by second row substitute Ruaraidh Hart who slipped through the defence for his first try. Andrew McLean took over the kicking duties again and was successful. (85-8)

A nice break from Freddy Douglas saw the ball come back up the field and into the hands of Fergus Watson, who scored his double. (90-8)

A few minutes later Fergus was ready for his hat-trick. Substitute prop Ben White stormed into midfield before Fergus received the Samoan defence and slotted through. (97-8)

Scotland reached the triple digits in the 63rd minute and this time it was Callum Norrie who fired over the line after a 50-22 kick from Hector Patterson resulted in a successful line-out. (106-8)

Samoa were awarded a penalty five yards out and Totoa Auvaa crashed over the line from the pick and go. Their kick was good. (106-15)

A quick response came from the Scots and after McLean was taken by a couple of Samoan defenders, captain Liam McConnell got his turn to score by blazing past the defence. McLean’s kick was successful again. (111-15)

Another for Scotland was Jack Hocking who crossed the line after a selfless offload from Kerr Yule. (116-15)

And the final points of the day went to Gavin Parry, who went over the ball after throwing into a line-out and then getting the ball back from Patterson. (123-15)

Full time: Scotland U20 123-15 Samoa U20

Earlier in the day, Japan U20 won 105-20 over Hong Kong China U20 in Hive and Uruguay U20 won 25-7 over Kenya U20.

Scotland U20: 15. Fergus Watson 14. Finlay Doyle 13. Johnny Ventisei 12. Findlay Thomson 11. Geordie Gwynn 10. Andrew McLean 9. Conor McAlpine 1. Robbie Deans 2. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty 4. Euan McVie 5. Ryan Burke 6. Liam McConnell CAPTAIN 7. Freddy Douglas 8. Tom Currie

Substitutes: 16. Gavin Parry 17. Ben White 18. Callum Norrie 19. Ruaraidh Hart 20. Jonny Morris 21. Hector Patterson 22. Kerr Yule 23. Jack Hocking

Samoa U20: 15. Panaua Niulevaea 14. Taitafono Tavita 13. Sefuluai Vaimauga 12. Kirisimasi Douglas 11. Thomas Moors 10. Antonio Popoalii 9. James Singh 1. Harry Hanipale 2. Pitone Avito 3. Spencer Ioelu 4. Totoa Auvaa 5. Hennie Faavae 6. Josh Fuimaono 7. Tagiilima Ripine CAPTAIN 8. Benjamin Faavae

Substitutes: 16. Jonathan Apelu 17. Alauni Fatu 18. Paul Masoe 19. Simon Mauigoa 20. Senio Faalupega 21. Ravuama Seruvakula 22. Kitiona Asovale 23. Maoaluma Pasa