Youth rugby

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Schools: Hutchesons' Grammar were given a taste of what to expect in their Brewin Dolphin Scottish School Under-18 Cup quarter-final against George Watson's College later this month when the sides met on Saturday at Auldhouse.

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Alan Lorimer

Watson's emerged 35-13 winners in what Dan Wyatt, the Hutchesons' coach, called a "bruising encounter" to continue their unbeaten run for the season, while ending the Glasgow school's 100% record, although the scoreline slightly flattered Watson's, who led by just two points at 15-13 after 55 minutes.

"The game could have been won by us but Watsons are a very physical side and exploited a tired defence, scoring several well-worked late tries," said Wyatt, who side scored unconverted tries through the flanker Scott Plumridge and left winger Leo Milton, and a penalty goal by Grant Thomson. High School of Glasgow also came off second best, losing 17-7, in a thoroughly competitive encounter with Dollar Academy. "We played very well but they executed well on our errors," said Dave Barrett, High's coach. "We were pressing for the winner but they got a try in the last minute after some poor tackling."Their Anniesland neighbours, Glasgow Academy, beat the former Brewin Dolphin Cup winners, Bell-Baxter High, 39-22, and there was a 27-27 win for Kelvinside Academy over Marr College at Troon. In the east, Stewart's-Melville College maintained their impressive start to the season with a 22-17 win over Edinburgh Academy in a tight match, another game that provided a cup preview. "We play Stewart's-Melville in the cup in late October and the game showed how close the sides are," said Mark Appleson, coach of Edinburgh Academy, the cup holders.The match marked the start of a busy week for Edinburgh Academy who face Durham tomorrow and Loretto on Saturday. Stewart's-Melville will host Galashiels Academy today in a match that will provide a chance for the Border school, who do not field a regular first XV, to play together as a team and to experience a style of rugby different to that of the semi-junior league in the south of Scotland. Several of the Galashiels Academy players were involved in the South Schools side for last week's match against Rugby School on the famous 'Close' pitch, the reputed birthplace of the sport. As expected, Rugby, with an age advantage, and having played together regularly, were too strong for the scratch side from the Borders, who lost 36-13, their tries coming from Jack Elliot of Selkirk High and Callum Crookshank of Earlston High. Gala Academy's Rhuari Howarth kicked a penalty.*Scotland's Under-18s, 32-5 winners over the Newcastle Falcons Academy in August, regroup for a training camp on October 17 and 18. The 30-strong squad will gather at Murrayfield to prepare for internationals in March against England (away) and Ireland (home), before their FIRA-AER Under-18 European Championship in Grenoble at Easter.Eddie Pollock, their head coach, said: "We've already taken 18 or so of those selected to Valladolid in July for our summer training camp and a number were involved in the game in August. Since then, along with the other selectors, I've identified a number of players worth looking at and they're coming to Murrayfield. It's a good chance to see how these boys react in the intense environment of the training camp."The next key selection date is December, when regional games will be played between Caledonia and Glasgow, and Edinburgh and the Borders, prior to the annual camp at the end of the year. Pollock will also be looking at players at a number of exile camps over the next few months.He is keen to underline the opportunities for those not selected to yet join the training squad. "There's still plenty time, and plenty of opportunity for people to show us what they can do," he said.Scotland Under-18Forwards Reece Patterson (North Berwick High), Rory Mason (Ashfield/Paviors), *Andrew McWilliam* (Edinburgh Acad/Currie), Angus Wallace (Aberdeen Grammar FP), *Grant Stewart (Strathaven Acad/Dalziel), Ross Graham (Hawick PSA), *Neil Irvine Hess (George Watson's Coll), Lewis Carmichael (North Berwick High), Nick Gray (Trent Coll), Zachary Austin (Fettes Coll), *Magnus Bradbury (Merchiston Castle/Oban Lorne), *Karl Main (Dunbar Grammar/Dunbar), *Scott Burnside (North Berwick High), *Stephen Ainslie (Berwick/Loretto), Ruaridh Knott (Highland/Loretto), *Ally Miller (George Watson's Coll). Not considered because of injury: *Cameron Fenton (Strathallan/ Howe of Fife), *Ben Johnston (Marr). Unavailable: Rory Simpson (Edinburgh Acad), *Ewan Bulger (Ayr/Arran High), Alastair Mackie (Stirling County/Dollar Acad)Backs *Hugh Fraser (Merchiston Castle), Ben Vellacott (Ivybridge Coll/Barnstable), Luke Earle-Wright (Robert Gordon's Coll/Deeside), *George Horne (Strathallan/Howe of Fife), Duncan Swanson (Edinburgh Acad), *Richard Taylor (Melrose/Loretto), Sean Mackle (Boroughmuir/Loretto), Archie Russell (Stirling County), *Harry Walker (Glasgow Acad/Glasgow Hawks), Matthew Douglas (Hawick YM/Newcastle Acad), Rory Watt (Edinburgh Accies), Ruaraidh Smith (Oakham/Northampton Saints), Angus Rennie (Gordons Huntly/Aberdeen Grammar FP), *Gavin Lowe (Ayr)Unavailable: Alex Swan (Edinburgh Accies)* Scottish Institute of Sport-supported player

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