Date: 18/10/14
A virtuoso display from skipper Danny Brough saw Scotland down valiant Wales 42-18 in the opening match of the 2014 European Championship.
The Huddersfield star, who scored 14 points and had a hand in three of his side’s seven other tries, was five years older than the next most senior Scot and relished his role of leader, as the hosts eased to victory in the second half.
Both sides looked to the future, with Scotland handing out five new caps and the visitors, who were only 16-8 down at the break, fielding eight debutants.
Torrential rain made handling difficult but the crowd of over 2,000 at Workington saw a good contest.
Wales went ahead through Rhys Williams but Scotland hit back with three tries in 16 minutes by Brough from a scrum and new boys London’s Oscar Thomas and Corbyn Kilday from Wakefield, Brough converting twice.
The game exploded on 36 minutes when Jonathan Walker hit Morgan Evans with a high shot that led to a brief melee and saw the Scottish prop put on report by referee James Child.
That led to a spell of Welsh pressure and, following a series of penalties, Christian Roets crossed for the Dragon’s second unconverted try.
Impressive youngster Connor Farrer got another straight after the break and the gap was narrowed to two points.
Scotland reacted with a burst of tries through Walker, David Scott and Callum Phillips in a devastating five minute spell that effectively decided the outcome.
Doncaster winger Scott added another on the hour and a glorious piece of creativity by Brough put in Brett Phillips for a try on his home ground with ten minutes left.
Farrer pulled another one back in the worst of the weather, as Wales went down with their heads held high.
SCOTLAND
1 Oscar Thomas (D)
2 David Scott
3 Ben Hellewell
4 Joe Wardle
5 Alex Hurst
6 Danny Brough
7 Nathan Massey (D)
8 Adam Walker
9 Danny Addy
10 Ben Kavanagh
11 Brett Phillips
12 Corbyn Kilday (D)
13 Sonny Esslemont (D)
Substitutes:
14 Callum Phillips
15 Josh Barlow
16 Jonathan Walker
17 Louis Senter (D)
Tries: Brough (12), Thomas (16), Kilday (28), J Walker (46), Scott (49, 61), C Phillips (51), B Phillips (70)
Goals: Brough 5/8
WALES
1 Tom Hughes
3 Yannic Parker
8 Kyle Scrivens
11 Christian Roets
19 Rhys Williams
6 Ollie Olds
10 Peter Lupton
13 Dan Fleming
16 Ricky Hough
12 Matty Barron
9 Phil Carleton
7 Ashley Bateman
22 Joe Burke
Substitutes:
5 Connor Farrer
24 Morgan Evans
15 Izaak Duffy
21 Lewis Reece
Tries: Williams (9), Roets (39), Lupton (44),Farrer (76).
Goals: Hough 0/2, Reece 1/2
Attendance: 2007
Referee: James Child (England)
Half-time: 16-8
