From BAFA.org.uk
Scotland lose to England
By BYAFA Media and Marketing
Feb 24, 2023 - 6:25:08 PM
Edinburgh was not the place to be last Saturday if you were a Scots sports fan, with their rugby team being humiliated by Italy while across the city the prime of Scottish football youth were being downed by their English counterparts, to leave the Scots still one ahead over the seven meetings to date.
The event was significantly upgraded compared to the previous two years, taking place at a venue suitable for a game of international status in Meadowbank and with both teams in new kit and fighting for a new trophy thanks to Wilson Sporting Goods. Their efforts were rewarded by a crowd that almost reached three hundred and but for the events at Murrayfield would have been significantly higher.
Both sides started cautiously, nerves getting the better of the occasion, but the Scots earned themselves an early break when Thomas MacMillan recovered a fumble on the English thirty-yard line. Unable to move the ball they settled for a field goal attempt but an English hand deflected the ball down to prevent the score. The home side soon had the crowd on their feet when Scott Findlay collected a punt and raced through some despairing tackles for close on fifty-yards before finally being hauled down at the two-yard line. Two plays later Kris Kennedy took the ball in on a Quarterback sneak for Scotland to draw first blood. Derek Russell, so normally reliable with the kicking duties saw his attempted conversion fade wide right. The first quarter came to a close with Scotland holding a 6-0 advantage with both defenses refusing to give ground.
The second quarter followed much the same pattern as the first with Scotland having a degree of success with the short passing game, while England replied on the ground. As it progressed, the territorial game became vital and the English finally got themselves back on level terms when Devar Gayle scampered in off right tackle. A poor snap gave David Dooner no chance with the conversion so the game remained tied at 6-6.
Another poor snap led to England taking the lead when an attempted punt resulted in them recovering the ball on Scotland’s four-yard line. Gayle stepped into the end zone on a carbon copy of his first score to increase the visitor’s lead. Once again the snap proved the undoing on the conversion attempt.
England’s next drive was probably the best of the game. Gayle went off left tackle for forty-five yards; Underhill added another five yards on the next play and Dennant a further fifteen yards on the following. Scotland’s defense then stood firm and with England facing a third down on the Scots twenty-five yard line, Luke Grundy somehow managed to come down with the ball surrounded by a flurry of Scottish defenders on the opponents six yard-line. Once more Gayle danced in unopposed behind right tackle and with Dooner nailing the extra points the teams headed into the dressing room with Scotland 6 - 20 in arrears.
Scotland came out determined to make headway in the third quarter and a superb Findlay punt return of almost seventy yards put them on the England eight-yard line - but the home side were not able to punch the ball in and surrendered possession on downs. For an instant it looked as if Gayle had finally managed to break free of his shackles when he swept right and sped down the touchline for close to ninety yards only to have to jog back when the score was nullified by a holding call. The next play saw Scotland reduce the arrears when they notched a safety, after the England offense conceded a penalty due to holding in the endzone. With a further two points to their credit, scant reward for Scottish effort and determination, the third quarter ended at 8 - 20.
The fourth period was a flag strewn affair notable in the main for some sterling Scottish defensive moments. Mark Murphy hauled down Gayle in a last-ditch tackle and then went on to recover a fumble. Blake Kyle and David Carney seemed to be everywhere on the field scurrying to the point of attack at every conceivable opportunity, but in the end England proved to have that little bit extra in hand to hold on to their lead.
The game was competitive and played in good spirit and show cased the best of British football talent. The crowd were entertained, the event well organised and the youth international scene put on a stronger footing for the future. A special vote of thanks must go to Doug Adamson, the SGA and the Edinburgh Wolves for working so tirelessly not only on the day but the months before hand to ensure that everything went like clockwork.
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