Elwood’s Wolfhounds tamed by Scots
It was a disappointing outcome for the Wolfhounds, who had started the first half very strongly, showing some sharp play at the back and aggression at the ruck. However, they could not answer the Scots’ change of style after the interval.
“They attacked us close to ruck in the second half and were very good at that tactic,” Wolfhounds coach Eric Elwood said.
“They then dominated possession and we simply could not do anything without the ball.
“We played well in the first half but we probably missed a couple of opportunities to score.
“We had nine new players in the side and, hopefully, they can learn from this experience before the game against England in Belfast next weekend.”
The Wolfhounds were not helped by injuries to two key players. Tony Buckley was withdrawn having suffered a tight hamstring, while Nevin Spence was taken off after experiencing double vision following a heavy tackle.
It had all looked propitious for the Wolfhounds as their dynamic start looked set to produce an early score. But instead, after a promising move broke down, it was Scotland A who came away with the ball, the Scots working their way up field with some impressive forward driving before gaining the first points with a 45-metre penalty goal from out-half David Blair.
The Wolfhounds’ response was emphatic. From a lineout Johne Murphy came off his blindside wing to come through on the inside channel, before feeding Willie Faloon. The Ulster openside was tracked down by Hefin O’Hare, but when the ball was recycled Faloon was quickly back on his feet to take the scoring pass for a try under the posts, leaving Ian Humphreys with an easy conversion.
A penalty each by Blair and Humphreys kept the Wolfhounds’ lead at four points, but when the Ulster out-half had a second penalty kick at goal, the ball drifted wide of the posts. Humphreys made no mistake with his next attempt however, the out-half’s successful kick giving the visitors a 13-6 lead.
The visitors, looking by far the slicker side with ball in hand, engineered a number of piercing moves, but Scotland claimed the next points against the run of play with a third penalty from Blair after the visitors were ruled offside at the ruck. The score left the Wolfhounds going into the interval break with a four-point advantage that poorly represented their first-half dominance.
Scotland A changed their game at the beginning of the second half, using their forwards to gain the hard yards. Blair was off target with a penalty before kicking to the corner with his next effort, allowing the Scotland A forwards to power drive to the line from the resultant lineout. Replacement prop Moray Low then bundled over for his side’s first try, which was converted by Blair.
A further series of drives by the Scots’ pack brought them to within five metres of the Wolfhounds’ line, and when the visitors strayed offside, it give Blair an easy kick at goal for a 19-13 home lead.
With the tide turning for the home team, Scotland A extended their lead when skipper Greig Laidlaw landed a long-range penalty goal. The visitors tried desperately to hit back with a break by replacement Isaac Boss, but the Scotland A defence refused to be breached.
Blair added another penalty kick before Scotland A delivered the final blow in the 79th minute, as lock Fraser McKenzie broke clear before sending O’Hare racing in for the try. Blair convert, claiming the final points of the game.
Scorers for Scotland A: M Low, H O’Hare try each; D Blair 2 cons, 5 pens.
Scorers for Ireland Wolfhounds: W Faloon try; I Humphreys con, 2 pens.
SCOTLAND A: J Thompson; H O’Hare, B Cairns, J Houston, L Jones ; D Blair, G Laidlaw (captain); J Welsh (M Low 22), D Hall (F Thomson 67), G Cross, S MacLeod, F McKenzie, R Wilson (R Harley 47), A MacDonald (R Grant 72), J Beattie.
IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS: G Duffy; J Murphy, E O'Malley, N Spence (I Whitten 40), D Hurley; I Humphreys (N O’Connor 67), T O'Leary (I Boss 63); B Wilkinson, D Varley (N Bradey 57), T Buckley (J Hagen 40), I Nagle (A Brown 57), D Toner, K McLaughlin (D Ryan 62), W Faloon, C Henry (capt).
Referee: G Garner (England).
