The muck and rain of Scotstoun did more to remind us why turf fields are likely the future than it allowed for any kind of decent rugby to be played. The quality of play on both sides, frankly, was abysmal. On a more positive note there were more likely more people watching the live feed on the internet than there were at the game, though the poor attendance was no doubt heavily linked to the weather.
There’s really not much point badgering on about a fierce contest or a great Scottish comeback. The game was dire, the pitch conditions less than agreeable, and the officiating utterly confusing. It’s hard to say what the selectors would make of it, there certainly won’t be any three quarters leaping up the pecking order, that’s for sure.
England might be reasonably happy with Alex Waller and Sam Dickinson, perhaps also Rob Miller whose good running form continued, though the direction of his kicking left much to be desired. Kyle Eastmond barely got any chances to run with the ball, and likewise Semesa Rokoduguni who barely made it into the second half. Freddie Burns showed no improvement, and Calum Clark was up to his old skullduggery again at the breakdown.
Ally Hogg was named man of the match, possibly for being one of few not to make any mistakes, and Jonny Gray did as well as could be expected given the circumstances. Henry Pyrgos scored a cheeky drop goal and was his usual self, capable but unspectacular, and Robert Harley got stuck in occasionally. Greig Tonks went off before the half with an undisclosed injury that one hopes isn’t serious, and the experiment of Jon Welsh at tighthead has hopefully come to an end as he was in all sorts of trouble in the scrum.
With the curtain-raisers now out of the way we can finally look forward to the real deal as the championship gets underway tomorrow. Here’s hoping the weather gods are more favorable, and the rugby gods even more so.
SCORING
03 mins – F. Burns pen 0-3
04 mins – H. Pyrgos drop 3-3
30 mins – H. Pyrgos pen 6-3
33 mins – England Penalty try 6-8
34 mins – F. Burns con 6-10
45 mins – F. Burns pen 6-13
58 mins – B. McGuigan try 11-13
59 mins – T. Heathcote con 13-13
63 mins – E. Daly pen 13-16
77 mins – T. Heathcote pen 16-16
CARDS
18 mins – D. Robson yellow (foul play)
57 mins – H. Slade yellow (foul play)
SCOTLAND ‘A’
J. Cuthbert; D. Fife (R. Vernon 60), M. Bennett, A. Grove, B. McGuigan; G. Tonks (T. Heathcote 36), H. Pyrgos (G. Hart 56); G. Reid (A. Allan 78), F. Brown (K. Bryce 72), J. Welsh (E. Kalman 49); K. Low (O. Atkins 56), J. Gray (capt.); R. Harley, B. Cowan (T. Holmes 56), A. Hogg.
ENGLAND SAXONS
R. Miller; S. Rokoduguni (C. Sharples 46), E. Daly, K. Eastmond, A. Thompstone; F. Burns (H. Slade 46), D. Robson (J. Simpson 78); A. Waller (N. Catt 63), D. Ward (J. George 46), S. Wilson (K. Brookes 78); E. Stooke (C. Matthews 63), G. Kruis; C. Clark (capt.), L. Wallace, S. Dickinson (D. Ewers 63).
Referee: L. Cardona (FFR)
Assistants: A. Blondel (FFR) & M. Zitouni (FFR)
TMO: n/a
