#4 Archie Erskine Scot 5nu18s 2016 proof #1

5 Nations Championship 2016

Scotland U18’s 2016

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The Scotland under-18 squad, which will compete at an inaugural U18 International series in Wales over Easter, has been announced.

The 26-man squad travelled to Cardiff yesterday for the tournament, which gets underway tomorrow, when Scotland face Wales.

The squad, who have been training for the last few months, played their first game against England earlier this month, which the Scots lost 39-15.

Scotland under-18 head coach Ally Donaldson said: “We’ve been working hard preparing for this tournament for the last few months, so there is a lot of excitement within the squad.

“We have three games down in Wales and each opponent will provide us with a different challenge.

“The next 10 days will be extremely beneficial to this group of players as they continue their development and we can’t wait for the opening match on Friday.”

U18 International Series Fixtures Friday 25 March: St Helens, Swansea – Wales v Scotland (2.30pm) Tuesday 29 March: Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach – Ireland v Scotland (5.15pm) and Wales v Italy (7.30pm) Saturday 2 April: Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach – Italy v Ireland (11am), Scotland v England (1.30pm) Wednesday 6 April: St Helens, Swansea – England v Italy (5.15pm) and Wales v England (7.30pm).

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Scotland Under-18 Squad - U18 International Series Forwards Ross Dunbar* - Stirling County RFC/Linlithgow Academy Calum Eastwood - George Watson’s College Connor Clark - Stirling County RFC/McLaren High School Euan McLaren - Dollar Academy Robbie Smith* - Ayr RFC/Douglas Ewart High School Paul Cairncross* - Kelvinside Academy/East Kilbride RFC Jamie Hodgson - Stewart Melville College Dean Roger - Highland RFC Archie Erskine - Leister Tigers/Uppingham School Fergus Haig* - Fettes College Andrew Horne* - Preston Lodge RFC Callum Cruikshanks* - Dollar Academy Daniel Marek - Richard Huish College/Bath RFC Jack Bruce* - Strathallan School Backs Harry Warr - Dollar Academy Charles Gowling - Sedburgh School/Newcastle Falcons Grant Hughes* - Dollar Academy Kyle Brunton* - Hawick Wanderers Fraser Strachan - Bedford School/Northampton Saints Patrick Anderson - Melrose RFC Fraser Dingwall - Bedford School/Northampton Saints Cameron Hutchison* - George Heriots School/ North Berwick RFC Stafford MacDowell - Merchiston Castle School Ben Eynon* - Strathallan School Rory McMichael - Wellington College/Harlequins Ben Appleson* - The Edinburgh Academy Scotland under-18s put up a brave fight in their opening match of the U18 International Series in Wales

this afternoon.

Ally Donaldson’s side scored three tries, but their Welsh hosts came out on top 31-30 in Swansea.

In the first-half Cameron Hutchison went over with Ben Appleson converting and kicking two penalties.

At half-time Wales were ahead 28-13.

In the second period Scotland scored early through a penalty by Appleson before Rory McMichael went over and Appleson kicked the conversion.

Wales kicked a penalty to put them 31-23 in front and as the game neared a close Scotland’s Fraser Strachan went over and Appleson kicked his third conversion to take the Scots to within one point of Wales.

However, there was not enough time left for another score, but Scotland will go into Tuesday’s game against Ireland with confidence.

Scotland U18 starting XV: 15. Stafford McDowall, 14. Rory McMichael, 13. Fraser Dingwall, 12.

Cameron Hutchison, 11. Ben Appleson, 10. Grant Hughes, 9. Charlie Gowling, 1. Ross Dunbar, 2. Paul Cairncross, 3. Euan McLaren, 4. Archie Erskine, 5.

Jamie Hodgson, 6. Jack Bruce, 7. Callum Cruikshank 8. Dan Marek.

A new-look Scotland under-18 side took on Ireland in their second match of the U18 International Series in Wales this evening.

Only three players remained from the narrow 31-30 defeat to Wales on Friday, with Ben Appleson, Cameron Hutchison and Dan Marek keeping their place in the starting XV.

It turned out to be a disappointing evening for the Scots and Ireland raced into an early lead when Daniel Hurley went over and centre James Hume converted. Four minutes later Ireland had a second with Number 8 Caelon Doris scoring from a line-out and Hume adding the extras.

Ireland continued to press and got their third after 20 minutes, when scrum-half Jonathon Stewart scored and Hume kicked his third conversion to make it 210. A fourth Ireland try followed three minutes before the break when winger Daniel Hurley got his second of the game, but the conversion was missed and Ireland led 26-0 at half-time. Early in the second-half Ireland got their fifth of the evening and second for Doris following an effective line-out drive. The score was unconverted and the Irish led 31-0.

Doris got his hat-trick 13 minutes later from another line-out drive and they scored a seventh try from a driving maul at the end of the half to make the final score 43-0 to Ireland.

Scotland U18 starting XV: 15. Patrick Anderson (Melrose RFC), 14. Ben Eynon (Strathallan School), 13. Cameron Hutchison (George Heriots School/ North Berwick RFC), 12. Fraser Strachan (Bedford School/Northampton Saints), 11. Ben Appleson (The Edinburgh Academy), 10. Kyle Brunton (Hawick Wanderers), 9. Harry Warr (Dollar Academy), 1.

Connor Clark, 2. Robbie Smith, 3. Calum Eastwood, 4. Dean Roger, 5. Jack Bruce, 6. Andrew Horne 7.

Fergus Haig 8. Dan Marek.

Replacements: Paul Cairncross, Ross Dunbar, Euan McLaren, Archie Erskine, Ruari Campbell, Callum Cruickshank, Charlie Gowling, Grant Hughes, Fraser Dingwall, Rory McMichael, Stafford McDowall.

Head coach Ally Donaldson made wholesale changes to his side for their final game of the U18 International Series in Wales and despite a spirited second-half comeback they ended their campaign with a defeat.

The Scots faced an England side who had beaten Ireland U18s 15-12 in their opening match of the tournament and it was England who got off to a flying start in Ystrad Mynach.

A converted try after nine minutes put England in front and they got a second through centre Oli Morris, which was once again converted by Jacob Umaga to make it 14-0 to England.

From the re-start England scored a third try, but this time Umaga missed the conversion.

Scotland got their first points of the game from the boot of Ben Appleson and his penalty made the score 19-3 to England.

After almost 30 minutes of play England scored their fourth try of the match through full-back Gabriel Ibitoye, which was converted by stand-off Umaga to give them a 26-3 lead.

England’s number 8 Thomas Dodd scored under the posts and Umaga converted to make it 33-3 with half-time approaching.

In the second-half England continued to dominate and scored their sixth try of the game to lead 38-3.

However, Scotland continued to press and got their reward when captain Cameron Hutchison went over for Scotland’s first try of the match which Appleson converted to reduce England’s advantage to 38-10.

Scotland continued their comeback and got a second try less than 10 minutes later. Following a great break

by Harry Warr, the replacement scored under the posts and the try was converted by Appleson to make it 38-17.

England hit back to put the game beyond Scotland with their seventh try of the match and the conversion made it 45-17 to England under-18s.

As the end of the game approached Scotland went over for their third try through Callum Cruikshank, which was converted by Appleson, but in the end England had done enough to win the contest 45-24.

Speaking to scottishrugby.org, head coach Ally Donaldson said: “A lot of players have put their hands up to move on further in the game in Scotland and they will all be a lot better for this experience.

“It’s the biggest learning experience these guys will have ever had. To play three games at that level, with such a short turnaround is hard going.

“We scored three tries today and could possibly have scored one or two more. The effort from the boys was outstanding and we ended up winning the second-half.

“They have been an outstanding group to work with and have improved since we started working with them a few months ago and they can all be proud of their efforts.”

Scotland U18 starting XV: 15. Stafford McDowall, 14.

Rory McMichael, 13. Fraser Dingwall, 12. Cameron Hutchison, 11. Ben Appleson, 10. Grant Hughes, 9.

Charlie Gowling, 1. Ross Dunbar, 2. Paul Cairncross, 3. Euan McLaren, 4. Archie Erskine, 5. Ruairi Campbell, 6. Andrew Horne, 7. Callum Cruikshank 8. Dan Marek.

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Scotland U18’s 2016

Stafford MacDowell (Merchiston Castle School),Rory McMichael (Wellington College/Harlequins),Cameron Hutchison* (George Heriot’s School/North Berwick RFC), Mark New* (Strathallan School),Ben Appleson* (The Edinburgh Academy),Grant Hughes* (Dollar Academy), Charles Gowling (Sedburgh School/Newcastle Falcons), Ross Dunbar* (Linlithgow Academy/ Stirling County RFC), Robbie Smith* (Douglas Ewart High School/Ayr RFC), Calum Eastwood (George Watson’s College), Dean Roger (Highland RFC),Jamie Hodgson (Stewart’s Melville College), Andrew Horne* (Preston Lodge RFC), Matt Fagerson* (Strathallan School) CAPTAIN Daniel Marek (Richard Huish College/Bath RFC), Paul Cairncross* (Kelvinside Academy/East Kilbride RFC), Connor Clark (McLaren High School/Stirling County RFC), Euan McLaren (Dollar Academy), Archie Erskine (Uppingham School/Leicester Tigers), Jack Bruce* (Strathallan School), Fergus Haig* (Fettes College), Harry Warr (Dollar Academy), Cameron Redpath (Kings Schools Macclesfield/Sale Sharks), Ben Eynon* (Strathallan School), Fraser Strachan (Bedford School/Northampton Saints), Fraser Dingwall (Bedford School/Northampton Saints)

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