Scotland confirmed they have strength in depth at under-18 level after their development side achieved a handsome win over Romania in last night's international match at Meggetland.
What made the Scots' performance all the more creditable was the age profile of the development squad, almost three quarters of whom are under-17 and who should form the basis of next season's Scotland under-18 team.
In all the young Scotland side ran in ten tries in a display of powerful forward play complemented by slick work by the backs. Outstanding for Scotland last night were the Glasgow Academy scrum half Andrew Simmers, the Currie flanker Tom Gordon and the St Aloysius hooker Michael Scott.
There were eye-catching displays too from replacement scrum half Gary Munro of Jed Thistle, Hawick Wanderers' centre Sean Chapman and number 8 Scott McGinley of Edinburgh Academy.
"There was a lot of quality rugby played tonight" said the Scotland under-18 head coach, Eddie Pollock, adding : "We played a speed, our passing was good and there was some excellent work in the contact area . Overall it show we are now developing more players for this level of rugby."
Scotland had the game won by half time when they led 31-0, Strathallan stand-off Josh Henderson having opened the scoring with a try, followed by touchdowns from Royal High winger Ross McCann, Strathallan centre Mark New(2) and Simmers, Henderson kicking three conversion goals.
Romania, fielding their European under-18 championship side, were rewarded with determined play at the beginning of the second half with a penalty goal by stand-off Bolder Tudor. But thereafter Scotland who used all their bench switched back into scoring mode with further tries by Henderson, McCann, Linlithgow prop, Ross Dunbar, George Watson's flanker Jonny Goldring and Berwick second row Harry Northwick, with conversion goals from Henderson and replacement stand-off Kyle Brunton of Hawick Wanderers.
Scotland u18A: B Sorbie (Aberdeenshire/Robert Gordon's College); R McCann (Royal High School/Royal High Cougars), S Chapman (Hawick Wanderers/Hawick HS), M New (Strathallan School), B Eynon (Strathallan School); J Henderson (Strathallan School), A Simmers (Glasgow Hawks/Glasgow Academy); L McLean (Strathallan School), M Scott (St Aloyisius College), C Eastwood (George Watsons College), L Crosby (Currie), A Gridley (Aberdeen Wanderers), J Goldring (George Watson's College/Boroughmuir), T Gordon (Currie), S McGinley (Edinburgh Academy/Currie) Subs C Harris (George Watson's College), R Dunbar (Linlithgow Academy/Stirling County), J Ross (Kirkham Grammart School/Sale Sharks), C Harris (Strathallan School/Howe of Fife), G Munro (Jed Thistle), K Brunton (Hawick Wanderers/Hawick HS), P Paxton (Ellon/Gordon Schools), S McDowell (Merchiston)
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