Improved Scottish side show Irish too much generosity

summed up this extraordinary match succintly: ''We gifted the Irish 23

points,'' declared the assistant Scottish coach, ''while every one of

ours had to be earned.''

I have seen many sides perform much worse than Scotland did and come

off victorious. Without looking through blue-tinted spectacles, there

was much to be pleased about in this B team showing, which was a

considerable improvement on the display in the corresponding fixture in

Belfast last season.

Andy Nicol's promise has been evident for some time. Here it blossomed

with a magnificent solo try and he will surely be the No.2 scrum half in

a very short time.

Nicol was forced to retire with a shoulder knock after 57 minutes. I

spoke to him afterwards and the injury is not serious; he might even be

fit to play in Saturday's international trial.

There should be a place in that event for Ayr winger Derek Stark. He

is still maybe not the best ball retainer in a contact situation but he

demonstrated his rekindled appetite for the game and his sheer pace is

such an asset. Ian Jardine was another back who did his future prospects

no harm.

And what of the l8-year-old debutant Gregor Townsend. The lad

displayed some excellent touches, a mazy run and a raking kick to the

corner come to mind. He also made two blunders, both of which cost

tries.

Team coach Hugh Campbell was quick to his defence. ''This is a

youngster with a lot of talent. Of course he is going to make mistakes

because he is still learning his trade. He will be the better for this

experience.''

The Scottish forwards could not be faulted on their mobility and

Campbell was particularly pleased by the way the big men, Neil Edwards

and Rob Scott, covered the ground. I was more impressed with Dave

McIvor, a model workhorse, and the handling skills of Dale McIntosh.

A reliable goal-kicker would have helped -- the Scots did miss five

penalties and a conversion. The wind was difficult, though Derek

McAleese coped well enough for Ireland.

Many people were bemused, but not amused, by the way in which the

match was refereed. Mr Thomas obviously studied at the Welsh school of

eccentrics; his decisions were often bizarre and his hand signals would

have brought chaos had he been on points duty.

Scotland were 12 points down before most of the team had touched the

ball. McAleese pounded over a penalty goal when the home backs were

judged to be offside and repeated the dose shortly afterwards.

That was quickly followed by a try from lock forward Kevin Potts. The

Scots knocked back untidy line-out ball and the Irish poured through to

pounce. McAleese converted and just 10 minutes had elapsed.

It took a lot of courage to come back from that but, gradually, the

Scots did. After Potts and Edwards had exchanged more than seasonal

greetings there was an explosion at the next ruck. Ireland were

penalised and Townsend kicked the goal.

A Stark run set up another chance -- Townsend was on target again as

Ireland went over the top.

McAleese tried a mammoth penalty from five metres inside his own half.

The touch judges first raised their flags, then signalled no goal.

Although the referee accepted the revised decision several Scots thought

the ball had gone over.

The score was but delayed. After a surge on the home line Paul

McCarthy crashed through the cover for another try.

A minute before the interval the Scots replied in style. Nicol ran a

short penalty and received the ball back from Ian Smith. The scrum half

then scorched upfield for a heart-warming try, handing out dummies like

bargains at the sales. Mark Appleson converted, so there was only four

points separating the sides.

Scotland began the second half in confident style. Townsend pinned

Ireland in the corner and a strike against the head presented another

opportunity. But a score would not come and visiting full back Colin

Wilkinson raised the siege with a neat break.

A ludicrous penalty against the Scots -- the ball was clearly out of

the ruck -- allowed McAleese to increase the lead. Scotland missed three

kicks at goal before Appleson finally hit the target.

Then came the real body blow. Townsend was trying to find his centres

when he inadvertently plonked the ball in the hands of Martin Ridge. The

Irishman was still smiling as he crossed the line 45 metres later and

McAleese converted.

Even so, the Scots kept trying. It looked as though the attack would

peter out as Fraser Harrold was held but Stark popped up from nowhere to

grab a cheeky try.

Mike Allingham was doing a good job in Nicol's place; four minutes

from the finish, however, Townsend spilled one of his passes allowing

McAleese to put Michael Fitzgibbon in for another gift-wrapped try.

One trusts that this outbreak of generosity is now over for the

season.

Scotland B -- M Appleson (London Scottish); D A Stark (Ayr), F J

Harrold (London Scottish), I C Jardine (Stirling County), M Moncrieff; G

P J Townsend (both Gala), A D Nicol (Dundee HS FP); G D Wilson

(Boroughmuir), M W Scott (Dunfermline), G B Robertson (Stirling County),

N G B Edwards (Harlequins), R Scott (London Scottish), D J McIvor

(Edinburgh Academicals), D L M McIntosh (Pontypridd), I R Smith

(Gloucester), captain. Replacement -- M J de G Allingham (Heriot's FP)

for Nicol (5min.).

Ireland B -- C R Wilkinson (Malone); N Furling (University College,

Galway), M Ridge (Blackrock College), M McCall (Bangor), R M Wallace

(Garryowen); D McAleese (Ballymena), A Blair (Dungannon); P J Soden

(Cork Constitution), J Murphy (Greystones), captain, P T McCarthy (Cork

Constitution), K Potts (St Mary's College), G Fulcher (University

College, Dublin), D McCartney (Ballymena), B O'Mahoney (University

College, Cork), M Fitzgibbon (Shannon).

Referee -- C Thomas (Wales).