Scotland Club XV 17 - 39 Ireland Club XV: Bickerstaff brothers impress despite defeat
The Scots, unable to use their Super6 players, struggled in the opening quarter, allowing Ireland to score two converted tries and a penalty for a 17-0 lead. Scotland hit back in the third quarter when they reduced Ireland’s lead to five points, only for the visitors to capitalise towards the end.
Scotland had a number of impressive performers, notably the Bickerstaff brothers among the backs and Gregor Law, Mike Vernel, Fergus Scott and Shawn Muir in the forward pack.
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Hide AdTries for Ireland by Brian Fitzgerald and Aran Hehir, both from clean breaks and both converted by stand-off James Taylor who also kicked a penalty, gave the visitors a 17-point lead in as many minutes.
The Scots scored a gem of a try as Grant Mollison delivered the pass that allowed Scott Bickerstaff to scorch over. But just before the break prop Conor Maguire barrelled over to give Ireland a 22-5 interval lead
A Colin Sturgeon try after the break from an Aaron McColm pass sparked a Scottish fightback and when McColm put Scott Bickerstaff in for his second try then added the conversion it was game on. But Ireland added a penalty by Gerry Hurley and he also converted tries by Jamie Heuston and Matthew Byrne.