Scotland pass their first test

Scotland deservedly claimed the first international honours of the weekend when outclassing Ireland in yesterday's universities tie at Anglesea Road. Three late tries presented a misleadingly comfortable margin, but the visitors had always looked more capable of scoring.

After playing with the strong wind in the first half, they should have been more than 10-5 ahead at half-time. For all their possession, they ran in just one try, from Kevin Gartside, with added points from the boot of out-half Gordon Ross. Ireland's sole response was a Richard Woods try shortly before the break.

A more ambitious Ireland approach in the second half brought a try and two penalties from Trinity's Simon Mitchell, putting them briefly ahead 21-17 on 66 minutes. Full back Gregor Lawson's unstoppable run into the corner restored Scotland's lead with 10 minutes remaining and they added two more tries from Ali Thompson and Graham Kiddie.

Irish Universities: P Archibald (Queen's); C Buckley, R Wallace (both TCD), C Lockhart (Queen's), H McMahon (UCD); S Mitchell, C Curneen (both TCD); M Moynagh (UCD), K Murphy (TCD), R McCormack (UCD), T Hogan (TCD), P Callanan, A Carroll (both UCD), R Woods (TCD), P Lynch (UCG). Replacements: C McBride (Queen's) for Lynch (73 mins); G Caldwell (Queen's) for Moynagh; J Smith (UCD) for Callanan (both 78 mins); D Spence (Queen's) for McCormack; J McKeon (Queen's) for Lockart (both 80 mins).

Scottish Universities: G Lawson; K Gartside, G Kiddie, A Aarvold, S Walker; G Ross, C Cussiter; B Prescott, A Maclean, C Reid, A Ness, A Davidson, A Thompson, N Outlaw, G Smith. Replacements: S Hawe for Smith (63 mins); B Price for Walker (72 mins); G McAughey for Reid; G Nicol for Davidson (both 81 mins).

Referee: R McDowell (Ulster).