It was a busy night at the Hive, with a wave of red Welsh tops filling the seats. Scotland won the first scrum early on and started strong, but some silly errors cost them possession in the Welsh 22.
Wales won back their own box kick and recycled it, with a few phases before prop Ioan Emanuel broke through and attempted an offload, but a Welsh support runner was tackled off the ball, resulting in a penalty to Wales and they kicked for touch. Wales sustain pressure on the Scottish line, but it is strong defence that comes out
on top and Scotland got a chance to clear.
Wales number 10 Harri Ford badly injured his ankle and was forced off. Scotland had the scrum, played it wide, and were tackled in the Welsh half. Wales failed to roll away, and Scotland won the penalty, kicking into the Welsh 22. Followed by a successful lineout. Scotland played it out wide to Reuben Logan, moving right to left before Freddie Douglas broke through and scored a try/ Urwin added the extras.
18’ Scotland 7-0 Wales
Wales’s Logan Franklin received a 20-minute red card. TMO confirmed a croc roll on Nairn Moncrieff from the Welsh half back. Another penalty for Scotland saw them kick towards the corner, hoping for a strong attacking opportunity. Some lovely hands from Scotland led to Moncrieff crossing over for another try in the 26 th minute. Urwin missed the conversion.
Scotland 12-0 Scotland
Wales responded with fire and took the opportunity to drive into Scotland’s 22. Their persistence paid off as prop Emanuel crossed the line. Replacement fly-half Wilde slotted the conversion.
Scotland 12 – 7 Wales
In the 34 th minute, Scotland struck again. The Welsh lineout was turned over, and the ball was passed to Moncrieff on the wing, who offloaded to full-back Brown for the try. Urwin added the extras once again.
Scotland 19-7 Wales
In the 35th minute, a TMO review was called for a Welsh player who made shoulder-to- head contact with Cowan after the ball had been cleared A second red card was shown to Wales, with Tom Cottle sent off for 20 minutes. With five minutes to go in the first half, Wales were a man down. Wales won a penalty in their 22, looking to secure points before halftime, but they couldn’t capitalise.
Half-Time: Scotland 19-7 Wales
The second half got underway, and Scotland returned with the same intensity, pushing towards the line in the first five minutes. However, Wales turned it over. Scotland made some changes, bringing on Jake Shearer, Bart Godsell, and Seb Stephen for Oli McKenna, Charlie Moss, and Joe Roberts.
Wales had a chance with a scrum in Scotland’s 22. They attempted an ambitious cross field kick to the wing, but no one was there to collect—an unlucky moment for the visitors. In the 55th minute, Wales struck back with a try from number 2, Harry Thomas. He managed to cross the line, cementing his place as joint-top try scorer in this year’s U20s Six
Nations.
Scotland 19-12 Wales
Isaac Coates came on for Matthew Urwin at fly-half. Wales continued to build momentum, and Scotland needed to stay defensively strong to secure the win. Nairn Moncrieff was replaced by Cameron van Wyk. In the 65th minute, Scotland attacked again. Coates lined up a penalty and slotted it through the posts.
Scotland 22-12 Wales
At the 69-minute mark, Wales fought through a wall of blue shirts in an attempt to add points to the scoreboard. More changes for Scotland saw Ollie Blyth-Lafferty come off for Jamie Stewart, and Oliver Duncan replaced by Mark Fyffe. With seven minutes left, Wales defended strong, but Scotland were awarded a penalty, followed by a try from captain Freddie Douglas—an outstanding performance from him. The conversion was missed.
Scotland 27-12 Wales
Freddie Douglas was named Player of the Match.
With one minute left, Scotland kicked the ball out, and the Hive Stadium erupted in cheers.
Final Score: Scotland 27-12 Wales
The final whistle marked Scotland’s first win in this U20s Six Nations campaign. The team looked relieved after their difficult 57-13 defeat to England.
They now turn their attention to their final match of the campaign, where they will travel to France to take on a strong side. Head coach Kenny Murray reflected on the win, saying:
“Sometimes we don’t get much luck, so it’s good to get the win, and it gives the boys a smile on their face as well.”
He continued:
“It was an opportunity tonight—our last home game in the Six Nations, playing against a Wales side that has won two games. I’m really pleased for the boys. “We had a good week last week. The team trained with Glasgow Warriors on Tuesday, and then we trained with the Scottish national team on Thursday.”
Captain and Player of the Match Freddie Douglas shared his delight:
“I’m absolutely delighted. The last time the U20s won a game was against Wales two years ago, so you kind of get used to losing. Everyone’s just over the moon. I’m still over the moon.”
Referee – Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Player of the match – Freddie Douglas
20 Minute Red Card –
Wales: Franklin (25 mins)
Full Red Card –
Wales: Cottle (35 mins)
Scotland U20
15 – Jack Brown – Edinburgh Rugby
14 – Nairn Moncrieff – Edinburgh Rugby
13 – Angus Hunter – Heriot’s Rugby
12 – Kerr Yule – Glasgow Warriors
11 – Fergus Watson – Glasgow Warriors
10 – Matthew Urwin – Glasgow Warriors
9 – Noah Cowan – Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders
1 – Oliver McKenna – Glasgow Warriors
2 – Joe Roberts – Glasgow Warriors
3 – Ollie Blyth-Lafferty – Edinburgh Rugby
4 – Charlie Moss – Montpellier
5 – Dan Halkon – Glasgow Warriors
6 – Oliver Duncan – Edinburgh Rugby
7 – Freddy Douglas – Captain – Edinburgh Rugby
8 – Reuben Logan – Northampton Saints
Replacements
16 – Seb Stephen – Edinburgh Academical FC
17 – Jake Shearer – Glasgow Warriors
18 – Jamie Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby
19 – Bart Godsell – Loughborough University
20 – Mark Fyffe – University of Edinburgh
21 – Hamish MacArthur – Edinburgh Rugby
22 – Isaac Coates – Edinburgh Rugby
23 – Cameron van Wyk – Ayr RFC
Wales U20
15 – Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)
14 – Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons)
13 – Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
12 – Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
11 – Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears)
10 – Harri Ford (Dragons)
9 – Logan Franklin (Dragons);
1 – Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby)
2 – Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
3 – Sam Scott (Bristol Bears)
4 – Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
5 – Tom Cottle (RGC)
6 – Deian Gwynne (Gloucester)
7 – Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers) (c)
8 – Evan Minto (Dragons)
Replacements
16 – Evan Wood (Cardiff Met)
17 – Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears)
18 – Owain James (Dragons)
19 – Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs)
20 – Caio James (Gloucester)
21 – Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
22 – Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
23 – Elis Price (Scarlets)
