Eadie's Scotland Begin Campaign With Defeat
Scotland U20s 3-59 England U20s
Mitch Eadie could do little to stem a flood of English tries, as Scotland U20s went down 59-3 in the RBS Six Nations opener on Friday.
The Bristol flanker played a full 80 minutes in Scotland’s back-row and made a number of telling tackles, but the visitors’ superior experience showed in the end as England notched nine tries at Firhill.
Scotland started brightly and took an early lead courtesy of a Harry Leonard penalty. But the hosts didn’t have long to enjoy their brief supremancy as England hit back with four tries in nine minutes.
London Irish winger Marland Yarde grabbed a quickfire hat-trick, while Jack Clifford crossed immediately from the restart to put England in compete control. The visitors were awarded a penalty try on the stroke of half-time to leave Scotland with a huge mountain to climb after the interval.
Aided by a yellow card for no.8 Jack Clifford, Scotland began the second period strongly but couldn’t find a way through an organized England defence. Anthony Watson soon added another try, before Clifford and Walker (2) completed the rout.
George Ford adding seven conversions to claim the man of the match award as Scotland’s Six Nations campaign got off to a miserable start.
Scotland U20: Hidalgo-Clyne, Farndale, Crawley, T Allan (Russell, 71 mins), Steven; Leonard, Steele (McConnell, 54 mins); Hislop (Bhatti, 68 mins), Scott (Turner 49 min), A Allan (Cessford, 68 mins), Gray (Redmayne, 60 mins) Sinclair, Eadie, Bordill, Swanson (Reid, 54 mins).
England U20: Ransom (Watson, 53 mins) Yarde, Daly (Heathcote, 64 mins), Mills, Walker; Ford, Robson, Cowan-Dickie (Hepburn, 60 mins), Britton, Sinckler (Harrison 60 min), Price, Merrick, Kvesic (Day, 64 mins), Walker, Clifford (Stooke, 75 mins).
Referee: Dudley Philips (IRFU).
Attendance: 2197.
