Scotland under pressure

Scotland Under-19s must beat England for the first time when they meet at Swansea on Sunday if they are to keep their hopes alive of winning the Four Nations Championships. The Scots lost their opening game 34-28 to hosts Wales in Aberavon on Friday, despite five tries from Heriot Watt student Dougie Flockhart.

The Border Raiders centre, who played for Scotland A last season, scored four after the break to level the scores only for Wales to score a controversial winning try in the last minute. Richard Brown of Anniesland College, Glasgow scored the other try with brothers Donald and Callum Anderson of Peebles High School kicking a goal each.

Scotland lost Liam Wild (Lakes College, Cumbria) the day before the game, star forward Brian Hendry (Murrayhouse Institute of Sport, Edinburgh) in the warm-up and both Ross Marshall (Arran High School) and Brian Malone (Lancaster and Morecambe College) during the match to leave them with just the bare 17 fit players to take on England!

SCOTLAND STUDENTS also lost their opening game of the Home Nations Championships, going down 30-18 to hosts Wales on Friday night in Aberavon. They must now beat England in Bridgend on Monday to remain in contention for a first ever title.

Gavin Willacy Scotland Rugby League International Press Officer