Scotland A 24, Ireland A 18
TONY Stanger wanted to prove something to himself. His late, second
try which saved the game for the Scots may also have convinced
Scotland's top brass that he is capable of making the switch from the
wing to midfield and building on the 36 caps that he has already won,
writes Derek Douglas.
Stanger still has years of international rugby left in him and his
decision to say that he did not want to play on the wing any longer paid
off at Myreside yesterday with two tries and a more than satisfactory
all-round performance of the duties of a centre-threequarter.
''I wanted to prove to myself that I could play in the centre at
representative level,'' he said.
Scotland A coach David Johnston added that it was not for him to say
whether or not Stanger would be but a fleeting visitor to the ranks of
his shadow side but he, too, was full of praise for the Hawick man.
''He performed well. He was the match-winner with two fines tries,
both from good lead-up work in broken play.''
Stanger's midfield partner Scott Hastings also did his chances of a
recall no harm with a solid performance. He supplied the scoring pass
for Stanger's second try and also was instrumental in denying the Irish
a try, when Pat Murray was held up over the line.
Scotland played with a stiff breeze at their backs in the first half
and seemed content to let the wind do the work. They led 9-8 at the
interval, Stuart Laing's three penalty goals just keeping the heads
above water in relation to Alan McGowan's penalty and Richard Wallace's
well-taken try.
In the second half, the Scots raised their work-rate but had to claw
their way back after a drop goal by McGowan.
Stanger's first try put them ahead but, nine minutes from the end,
Mark McCall punished slack Scottish defence with a try which Niall
Malone converted.
Stuart Laing's penalty goal brought the Scots within a point of
Ireland and that seemed to be it. But Stanger's try and Laing's
conversion silenced the Irish.
Scotland A -- R Shepherd (Edinburgh Academy); H Gilmour (Heriot's FP),
A Stanger (Hawick), S Hastings (Watsonians), D Stark (Boroughmuir); S
Laing (Instonians), G Burns (Stewart's Melville FP); J Manson (Dundee HS
FP), M Scott (Orrell), S Paul (Heriot's FP), J Richardson (Edinburgh
Academy), captain, R Scott (London Scottish), F Wallace (Glasgow
High/Kelvinside), S Reid (Boroughmuir), I Smith (Gloucester).
* A LATE dropped goal gave Ireland a 24-22 victory over Scotland
yesterday in the under-21 match at Myreside.
Yesterday's results
A INTERNATIONAL
Scotland 24, Ireland 18.
UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL
Scotland 22, Ireland 24.
UNIVERSITIES INTERNATIONAL
Scotland 17, Ireland 22.
BORDER LEAGUE
Jed-Forest 24, Selkirk 19.
OTHER MATCHES
Haddington 17, CYM Dublin 5; Corstorphine 20, Suttonians 13; Preston
Lodge FP 11, City of Derry 21; Hawick 16, Biggar 13; Hawick 16, Biggar
13; West of Scotland 31, Hillhead/Jordanhill 12; Musselburgh 20,
Portadown 19; Wigtownshire 15, Annan 26; Dunbar 41, Skerries 13;
Boroughmuir 14, Stewart's Melville FP 13; Howe of Fife 15, Stirling
County XV 10; Kelso 31, Edinburgh Academicals 12; Kirkcaldy 23, Currie
18.
Schools -- Royal GS Newcastle 15, Watson's College 15; Dunfermline HS
5, Sullivan Upper School 32.
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