SCOTLAND 22

IRELAND 24

A LATE try from Ireland’s Scott Grix consigned Scotland to a 24-22 defeat in an entertaining Rugby League European Championship clash at Galashiels.

After trailing at the break, a second half comeback edged Scotland ahead, but Grix’s late try clinched victory for the visitors and consigned the Scots to their second defeat in this season’s competition, leaving them with no chance of retaining the title they won last year.

Ireland established a ten point lead inside the opening 13 minutes with tries from Luke Ambler and Brad Hargreaves, and one conversion from Liam Finn, but Scotland hit back with a try from Danny Addy.

However, Ireland finished the half strongly, and after Ambler crossed for a second converted try, Finn kicked a penalty on the stroke of half time to give his side an 18-4 lead at the break.

Scotland staged an impressive second half come back, reducing the arrears within three minutes of the restart when a surging run from Brough creating an opening for Danny Addy to cross for his second try, which Brough converted.

Shane Toal and Dale Ferguson then crossed for converted tries to move Scotland 22-18 ahead, but Ireland clinched victory when Ben Johnston put Scott Grix over for a try which Liam Finn converted to put Ireland 24-22 ahead, a lead they held until the final whistle.

Scotland coach Steve McCormack said: “The intensity in the first half wasn’t there. In international football you can’t dip your toe in and it was similar to the game in Wales last week.

“We gave ourselves a lot to do after the first half.

“In the second half we were great though, and young lads like Shane Toal, Richard Harris and Alex Walker did very well and will be better for that experience, but we don’t like being gallant losers.

“We looked after players like Bob Beswick and Liam Finn in that second half, but if you clock off at this level you get punished, and the only time in the second half we clocked off we got punished."

Scotland began with one debutant in the starting line up, Shane Toal of Barrow Raiders, and started well, enjoying the better of the possession and territory in the opening minutes.

But it was Ireland who opened the scoring on seven minutes on their first foray to the line, Luke Ambler charging over from close range for a try next to the post which was converted by Liam Finn.

An injury to James Mendeika led to a five minute stoppage shortly afterwards, with the Bradford Bulls man eventually being helped off the pitch after treatment, but it didn’t upset the Irish momentum as they scored almost immediately when play restarted, with Brad Hargreaves going over in the corner after a break down the left.

It wasn’t the start Scotland would have wanted but they soon hit back, and after a strong run from Oscar Thomas earned the Scots a penalty on the ten metre line, the ball was fed out wide to Danny Addy, who darted through a gap in the Irish defence to touch down for an unconverted try.

A high kick from Brough on to the Irish goal line created a chance for Scotland on 30 minutes, but despite desperate attempts by both Toal and Harris to get a hand on the ball, the chance went begging thanks to good defensive cover from Hargreaves.

But three minutes later, good Irish pressure had Scotland on the back foot, and after a desperate tackle from Dale Ferguson kept the Irish at bay a metre out, Scotland’s respite was only temporary as Ambler then powered through for his second try next to the posts, leaving an easy conversion for Liam Finn.

The first half ended with Liam Finn opting to kick for goal when Ireland were awarded a penalty just inside the Scotland half, and the Irish skipper made a fine job of the kick, increasing his side’s lead to 18-4 at the break.

The Scots needed a good start to the second half and within three minutes they reduced the arrears with a surging run from Brough taking them to within 20 metres, which created an opening for Danny Addy to cross for his second try which Brough converted.

It got better for Scotland four minutes later when Shane Toal marked his full international debut with a try, going over in the right hand corner following a sweeping move, and Brough landed a difficult conversion from the touch line to bring Scotland back to within two points.

As the hour mark approached, a mazy run by Elliot Cosgrove took him past several challenges and to within a metre of the Scottish line, and when the ball came back Finn crossed the line but was held up by good Scottish defending.

But at the midway point of the half, Scotland took the lead for the first time, with a Brough pass creating an opening for Dale Ferguson who weaved his way past two tackles and charged over for a fine score under the posts, leaving Brough with an easy conversion.

Seven minutes later, Scottish pressure almost brought another try on the sixth tackle, when an Oscar Thomas pass found Alex Walker in space on the left wing, but despite his desperate attempt to touch down in the corner, the referee ruled the ball had not crossed the line.

But despite being pushed back by Scottish attacks for much of the second half, Ireland landed a killer blow with what proved to be the decisive score eight minutes from time. A terrific break from Johnston took him deep into the Scottish half and a fine pass inside sent Scott Grix over for a try which Liam Finn converted to clinch a 24-22 win.

Scotland: David Scott (Doncaster), Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders), Ben Hellewell (London Broncos), Richard Harris (Warrington Wolves), Alex Walker (London Broncos), Danny Brough (Huddersfield Giants) (capt), Oscar Thomas (London Broncos), Ben Kavanagh (Widnes Vikings), Liam Hood (Salford Red Devils), Jonny Walker (Leigh Centurions), Sonny Esslemont (Hull KR), Dale Ferguson (Bradford Bulls), Danny Addy (Bradford Bulls). Subs: Joe McClean (Gloucestershire Old Golds), Corbyn Kilday (Central Queensland Capras), Lewis Clarke (Edinburgh Eagles), Harvey Burnett (unattached).