All the honours went to the visitors in the match at Caerphilly RFC which kick-started the Wales-Scotland weekend with a Friday afternoon kick off, the first encounter between the recently formed Wales Clubs XV and their Scottish counterparts.
The Scotland Amateur pack, which featured man-of-the-match Bruce McNeil, along with Damien Kelly, skipper Tam McVie, Angus Martyn and Sean Crombie overpowered Wales Clubs XV with Richard Snedden pouncing on the opportunities they created at scrum half.
Wales Clubs XV’s Steve Martin, of Narberth, at centre put in a measured display at centre but only had the ball in his hands three times in the match. Once he scored and twice he was held right on the line.
Missing were players from many Welsh clubs with Narberth, Whitland and Newport Saracens producing nine of the starting line-up. It was twenty-six minutes before a score came as Scotland Amateur flanker Martyn went over from a tap penalty and fly half Andrew Skeen, who had missed two close-range penalties, converted.
Two minutes later, the Welsh Martin handled brilliantly and scored a fine try that fly half Lee Williams converted, but the writing was on the wall and Scotland Amateur fullback Steven Ruddick was through to send wing Marc Teague over before Skeen found his form and landed a penalty for 15-7 at the break.
Scotland Amateur grew in belief as Wales Clubs XV failed to share the play, the second half saw the Scots dominate with McNeill leading surge after surge. It was not till the 60th minute that Snedden touched down after the Welsh pack were driven backwards at high speed. Skeen converted. Teague followed with a second try before Skeen ran through a bewildered defence for a solo try that he converted.
Wales Clubs XV 7 Scotland Amateur 34
Scorers
Wales Clubs XV
Try: S Martin
Con: E Williams
Scotland Amateur
Tries: M Teague (2), A Martyn, A Skeen, R Snedden
Cons: A Skeen (3)
Pen: A Skeen
Wales Clubs XV: Tom Botwood (Llantrisant); Tom Bonnell (Narberth) (rep: Gethin Davies (Brecon)), Steve Martin (Narberth), Matthew Lewis (Builth Wells, captain), Andrew Mead (Llangennech); Emyr Williams (Narberth) (rep: Michael Jones (Llantwit Fardre), Andrew Davies (Narberth) (rep: Glenn Holloway (Llantrisant); Alun Davies (Whitland), Gareth John (Pembroke) (rep: Anthony Payne (Caerrphilly), James Huntley (Rhiwbina) (rep: Matthew Petit (Caerphilly), Chris James (Narberth), Lee Williams (Newport Saracens) (rep: Kyle Coulter (Bridgend Ath)), Lee Edwards (Newport Saracens) (rep: Shaun Miles (Ammanford)), Colin Davies (Cardigan), Andrew Packer (Newport Saracens)
