Harsh decisions by the Welsh referee, James Jones, ended Scotland�s chances of pulling off a victory over Ireland in the IRB U20 World Championship ninth-place play-off at a windy Rodney Parade yesterday.
Scotland U20 12 - 39 Ireland U20
ALAN LORIMER
At Rodney Parade
Harsh decisions by the Welsh referee, James Jones, ended Scotland's chances of pulling off a victory over Ireland in the IRB U20 World Championship ninth-place play-off at a windy Rodney Parade yesterday.
Jones, who has been criticised for his handling of both international sevens rugby and Magners League games, issued a red card to Tom Bury and then sent lock Fraser McKenzie to the sin-bin, leaving the Scots playing with 13 men at one stage in the game.
Bury, the Boroughmuir winger, was alleged to have used his feet dangerously when trying to free his leg from a ruck.
The centre Steve McColl was forced to retire with a hamsting pull closely followed by his Dunfermline colleague, lock Neale Patrick. The loss of Patrick, replaced by back row Alexander Wukovits, became more acute when lock Fraser McKenzie was sin-binned.
"At that stage we were down to 13 men and we didn't have a genuine lock" said John Jeffrey, the Scotland team manager, .
Ireland, playing with the stiff breeze behind them, had started well with two penalties by scrum-half Ian Porter but it was not until first-half injury time that the Irish, took advantage of Scotland's plight, with a try by winger Chris Cochrane, converted by Porter for a 13-0 lead.
Early in the second half a try by centre Eoin O'Malley, again converted by Porter, gave Ireland a massive cushion.
Scotland, fought back and were rewarded when Ruaridh Jackson gathered a loose ball on halfway before outsprinting the cover to touch down in the corner.
Ireland pulled away again with a try from wing Dave Kearney, but Scotland again responded with a score from Andrew Rose, converted by Murray. Ireland then ran in late tries by Kearney and Cochrane, both converted by Ian Madigan.
In the final at the Liberty Stadium New Zealand confirmed their No.1 seeding with a 38-3 win over England. The third place play-off resulted in a 43-18 win for South Africa over the hosts, Wales.
Scorers. Ireland Tries: Cochrane (2), O'Malley, Kearney (2). Cons: Porter (2), Madigan (2). Pens: Porter (2)
Scotland Tries: Jackson, Rose. Con: Murray Ireland N Morris; D Kearney, E O'Malley, C Cleary, C Cochrane; M Dufficy, I Porter; P Karayiannis, J Harris-Wright, B Barclay, I Nagle, E Sheriff, P Ryan (capt), M Entwistle, K Essex Subs used S Douglas, S Archer, J Sandford, C Ruddock, D Moore, I Maddigan, J Smith
Scotland M Allan; L Jones, P Loudon, S McColl, T Bury; J Murray, R Samson; G Strain, A Duncan, L Niven, F McKenzie, N Patrick, A Rose, L Calder (capt), C Simmonds Subs used N Shannon, G Cameron, A Wukovits, J Baird, P Jericevich, R Jackson, P Horne
Referee J Jones (Wales)
