Wolfhounds get pushed around in second half

A INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY MATCH: Scotland A 32, Irish Wolfhounds 13:IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS failed to make it three in a row against Scotland A at Galashiels last night in a match dominated by the visitors in the first half but markedly by the home side after the break.

Such was the Scots’ grip in the match in the second half, achieved by using the forwards rather than putting the ball wide, the Wolfhounds could score no points.

“We simply didn’t get enough ball,” said Wolfhounds coach Eric Elwood. “It was the old cliché of a game of two halves. We played well before the break but the Scots took a different tactical approach in the second half and attacked us close to the ruck.”

The Wolfhounds’ cause was not helped by the enforced substitutions of Tony Buckley with a tight hamstring and centre Nevin Spence, who was taken off after experiencing double vision. As a result, both may not be available for next week’s game in Belfast against England Saxons.

The early signs had been good for the Wolfhounds as their dynamic start looked set to produce an early score, but instead, after a promising move broke down, Scotland A came away with the ball, worked their way up field with forward driving, then gained first points with a 45-metre penalty goal from outhalf David Blair.

Wolfhounds’ response was emphatic. From a lineout John Murphy came off his blindside wing to burst 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 that left Ian Humphreys an easy conversion.

A penalty each by Blair and Humphreys kept Wolfhounds’ lead at four points, but when the Ulster outhalf had a second penalty kick at goal the ball this time drifted wide of the posts. At Humphreys’ next attempt, following clever handling by the Wolfhound backs, there was no mistake, the kick giving the visitors a 13-6 lead.

Wolfhounds, looking by far the slicker side with ball in hand, engineered a number of defence-piercing moves, but against the run of play it was the dogged Scotland side which claimed the next points with a third penalty goal from Blair after the visitors were ruled offside at the ruck.

That left Wolfhounds going into the interval with a four-point advantage that poorly represented their first-half dominance.

Scotland A, having looked less than efficient behind the scrum, changed their game at the beginning of the second half, using their forwards to gain the hard yards. Then, when Greig Laidlaw released Jim Thompson, the fullback was felled by a high tackle from replacement prop Jamie Hagen earning the Scots a penalty. But this time Blair missed with his kick.

The Scots were beginning to play with more conviction and when they pirated ball from a Wolfhounds lineout their attack resulted in a kickable penalty. Blair, however, opted for the kick to the corner allowing the Scotland A forwards to power drive to the line from the resultant lineout, ending with replacement prop Moray Low being bundled over for his side’s first try, converted by Blair.

Another series of drives by the pack brought the Scots to within five metres of the Wolfhounds’ line and a desperate attempt by Scott MacLeod to ground the ball. The big lock was thwarted, but the referee had ruled the Wolfhounds offside, giving 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 from the goal by replacement Isaac Boss, but the Scotland A defence had gained in confidence as well.

Then, in the 79th minute, Scotland A delivered the final blow as lock Fraser McKenzie broke clear before sending O’Hare racing in for the try, Blair adding the final points of the game.

SCOTLAND A: J Thompson; H O'Hare, B Cairns, J Houston, L Jones; D Blair, G Laidlaw (cap); 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 OMalley, N Spence (I Whitten 40), D Hurley; I Humphreys (N O'Connor 67), T OLeary (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).