A YOUTHFUL Scotland went down 50-14 to a New South Wales Country Under-23s team in their World Cup warm-up match in Ballina.
The Bravehearts, who were without seven members of their likely team to face Tonga in their opening group game in Cairns next weekend, raced into a 10-0 lead after 14 minutes but fell away badly, conceding nine tries to their hosts.
Steve McCormack opted to give all eight uncapped players in his squad a run-out and they made the best possible start with a third-minute try from one of the side’s new faces, Penrith winger Lachlan Stein.
Full-back and acting captain David Scott then added a second after Oscar Thomas’ grubber kick bounced dangerously in the hosts’ in-goal area.
Thomas kicked one conversion to make it 10-0 which was a fair reflection of the Bravehearts’ early domination.
But they were unable to maintain their focus and a series of handling errors gifted long-range tries that enabled the Country team to draw level.
Substitute Johnny Walker had a try disallowed for a double movement before pacey Country centre Riley Thomas swooped on another blunder by the Scots to grab his second try of the game and nudge his side in front on 30 minutes.
Trailing 14-10 at half-time, the game went away from the tourists when centre Jacob Gagai, younger brother of South Sydney’s Dane, finished off well-worked moves for two tries in seven minutes and, although Hull KR winger Will Oakes pulled a try back, Scotland finished a well-beaten team.
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