Scotland A 32 Ireland Wolfhounds 13: Eric Elwood's Ireland Wolfhounds failed to build on a promising first half when they were held scoreless after the break by Scotland A at Galashiels.
After dominating the game until the break the visitors were unable to get their hands on the ball in the second half and missed out on a third consecutive win over their hosts.
“We simply didn’t get enough ball” said Elwood afterards. “It was the old cliché of a game of two halves. We played well before the break but the Scots took a different tactical approach in the second half and attacked us close to the ruck”
There was further worrying news for Elwood and Ireland coach Declan Kidney after prop Tony Buckley suffered hamstring tightness and centre Nevin Spence was taken off after experiencing double vision. Both are doubts for next week’s game in Belfast against England Saxons.
A 45 metre penalty goal from Scotland’s outhalf David Blair opened the scoring but the response was emphatic. From a line-out, wing Johne Murphy came off the blindside to the inside channel and fed Willie Faloon. The Ulster openside was tracked down by Hefin O’Hare but when the ball was recycled Faloon was quickly back on his feet to take the scoring pass for a try under the posts that left Ian Humphreys with an easy conversion kick.
A penalty each by Blair and Humphreys kept Wolfhounds’ lead at four points, but when the Ulster outhalf had a second penalty kick at goal the ball this time drifted wide of the posts.
Humphreys made no mistake at the next attempt, following clever handling by the Wolfhounds’ backs, and gave Ireland a 13-6 lead.
The dogged Scots claimed the next points with a third penalty goal from Blair after the visitors were ruled offside at the ruck, leaving Wolfhounds going into the break with a four point advantage that poorly represented their first half dominance.
Scotland turned to their forwards after the break and kept the Irish at arms length.When they stole a Wolfhounds lineout their attack resulted in a kickable penalty, but Blair opted for touch and after a powerful drive, replacement prop Moray Low bundled over for his side’s first try. Blair converted.
A penalty gave the hosts a 19-13 and they extended that when Greig Laidlaw landed a long-range penalty goal. The visitors tried desperately to hit back with a break from the goal by replacement Isaac Boss but the Scotland A defence had gained in confidence as well.
In the 79th minute Scotland A delivered the final blow as lock Fraser McKenzie broke clear before sending Hefin O’Hare racing in for the try, Blair adding the final points of the game.
