Scotland A finished their Four Nations Championship on a high with a 40-24 victory over England Lionhearts at Staines on Saturday evening. They outscored the hosts by eight tries to four but had to come from 18-14 down at half-time. Scotland controlled the second-half, despite having less of the ball than England, and raced away to victory: their third win in five years against the Auld Enemy.

Former Harlequins RL winger Dave Arnot opened the scoring on five minutes after Seb Trotter's chip and chase, before St Albans Centurions prop Paul Maloney levelled from close range after 12 minutes, Rich Cadywood edging England ahead. Scotland Student international Arnot, who has just left Quins to join London Scottish, was at it again three minutes later, taking a towering bomb by Jamie Benn to touch down in the right hand corner, Benn adding two points with a superb conversion.

Scotland had to defend fiercely and went further ahead against the run of play when Edinburgh Eagles' Richard Knight ran 70 metres to score an intercept try, sadly damaging his wrist in scoring: it was his last contribution as he was substituted. But two Lionhearts tries in two minutes around the half-hour mark put the hosts back in front. Ipswich's Paul Le Marquand went over on the right and seconds after the restart Crawford Matthews was harshly punished after taking a high kick and St Albans' second rower Andy Lake went in under the posts. East Devon's converted all three to put England 18-14 up at half-time.

England dominated possession and field position after the break, but Scotland hung in with great determination to keep the Lionhearts at bay and were rewarded

15 minutes in when Edinburgh Eagles' Dave Lynn sold a dummy and went over, Benn adding the extras.

Scotland took control of the game from here on in. Edinburgh centre Mike Wallace and Arnot's kick-chase forced a goal-line drop-out and at the end of the next set, 17 year old winger Mark Dack finished off a fine move in the left hand corner.

The Bravehearts then had to defend repeat sets and held English players inches from their line twice before finally getting into England's half where Wallace bulldozed his way over the line on the right to put Scotland A ten points up. From the restart, prop John Cox broke the Lionhearts' defensive line with a fine burst and sent Edinburgh club-mate Andy Todd clear from halfway. The former full internationalist went all the way and Benn converted from wide on the right to make it 34-18 and all but seal victory.

England's response was too late, Craig Middlemore going over under the posts and Cadywood converting, but Scotland had the last say, Dack finishing another flowing move on the left after Cox caused mayhem up the middle, Benn bringing up the 40 points wit the final kick.

The excellent team performance secures third place for Scotland, the wooden spoon for England. It was also Edinburgh prop Ash Carroll's final game for Scotland after 12 years playing for Scotland Students and A team.

Scotland Under-18s put up a brave fight before going down to three late tries to lose 36-16 to England Lionhearts Under-18s at Staines in the curtain-raiser to the A Team International.

Article by Gavin Willacy
10 August 2009