Under-21 international: Scotland ... 5 Ireland ... 13Ireland maintained their unbeaten record at this level against Scotland with this win at Mayfield in Dundee on Saturday. The performance owed much to sheer scrummaging technique.

Ireland exploited this endemic weakness for Scotland ruthlessly in the first half and might have done so throughout the game had not the outstanding loose head John Lyne departed early in the second half with an injury.

Ireland's early dominance in the scrums (though not in the lineout) allowed half-backs Conor O'Loughlin - lively at scrumhalf - and Allister McAllister to indulge in more expansive rugby, but a combination of stern Scottish defence and a glutinous surface resulted in little reward.

Coach Michael Bradley generously described the pitch as "heavy" and added: "It was difficult to get the ball wide and to put players into space. We played more to our strength up front."

Apart from the impressive effort by the front row, Ireland had strong performances from openside flanker Niall Ronan, number eight Stephen Keogh and substitute Neil McComb, the latter playing on his own club ground.

Behind the scrum winger Richard Lane took his try well, centres Barry Murphy and Keith Matthews showed an ability to break and Tommy Bowe was secure at full back.

Ireland's points in the first half were restricted to two penalties from McAllister, the outside half missing two further attempts before the break.

Then in the second period of play, Scotland forced their way into the game, their efforts rewarded with a fine try by winger Andrew Turnbull.

But Ireland responded in the last five minutes of the game with a try by Lane, converted by McAllister.

SCOTLAND U-21: A Warnock; A Turnbull, G Morrison, T Philip, C Shaw; P Godman, C Cusiter; A Dickinson, F Thomson, G Cross, A Strokosch, M Rennie, S Swindall, A Hogg, D Callam. Replacements: J Malakoty for Dickinson (60 mins), K Brown for Swindall (60 mins).

IRELAND U-21: T Bowe (Queen's University); R Lane (UCC), B Murphy (UL Bohemians), K Matthews (UL Bohemians), D Warwick (Newport); D McAllister (Terenure College), C O'Loughlin (Buccaneers); J Lyne (Lansdowne capt), R Best (Belfast Harlequins), J Moran (UCD), E Gannon (UCD), S O'Connor (Cork Constitution), J Muldoon (Galwegians), N Ronan (Lansdowne), S Keogh (UCC). Replacements: E McGovern (Old Crescent) for Lyne (46 mins), F O'Loughlin (Shannon) for C O'Loughlin (56 mins), N McComb (Dundee HSFP) for O'Connor (61mins).

Referee: B Debney (England)