Borderers help Scotland end under-18 Six Nations rugby festival in France on winning note

Borderers James Dalrymple, Charlie Robbie and Archie Smellie helped Scotland end this month’s under-18 Six Nations rugby festival in Vichy in France on a winning note.

Head coach Ross Miller’s age-grade side signed off with a 33-19 victory against Georgia at Vichy’s Stade Municipal Louis Darragon on Saturday.

James Dalrymple being lifted in a lineout during a 33-19 win for Scotland’s under-18s against Georgia in Vichy in France on Saturday (Photo: Joe Anderson/Scottish Rugby Union)

placeholder image — James Dalrymple being lifted in a lineout during a 33-19 win for Scotland’s under-18s against Georgia in Vichy in France on Saturday (Photo: Joe Anderson/Scottish Rugby Union)

That was their first win of the festival following losses by 23-19 to Italy last Tuesday and 34-15 to Wales a week ago on Friday.

Melrose’s Dalrymple and Robbie both started against the Georgians, at No 4 lock and inside-centre respectively, and Peebles’ Smellie was on the bench.

Charlie Robbie on the ball during a 33-19 win for Scotland’s under-18s against Georgia in Vichy in France on Saturday (Photo: Joe Anderson/Scottish Rugby Union)

The young Scots’ try-scorers were blindside flanker Hamish Mather, tighthead prop Cooper Simpson, outside-centre Ben McDonald, hooker James Roberts and substitute Alex Sneddon, with full-back Finlay Anderson adding three conversions and Sneddon another.

Touching down tries for their opponents, two of them converted by Luka Chakua, were Sandro Gamkrelidze, Mikheil Mgalaobishvili and Saba Gogrichiani.

Dalrymple also started against Italy and Wales, skippering last week and scoring a try. His try was one of three touched down versus the Italians, with full-back Sneddon and replacement Rhuari Hill supplying the others and the No 15 adding two conversions.

Smellie started against Italy too, at tighthead prop, with Robbie on the bench.

Archie Smellie during a training session for Scotland’s under-18s in France (Photo: Joe Anderson/Scottish Rugby Union)

That was a reversal of roles from four days prior, Robbie having started at outside-centre against the Welsh, with Smellie as a replacement that time round.

Their three unconverted tries against Wales were scored by No 15 Sneddon, right-winger McDonald and No 8 Rowan Walsh.

Former Melrose lock Miller was impressed by the improvement shown by his squad as the tournament went on, telling the Offside Line rugby news website: “We’ve got better and learnt a lot from the first two rounds and we’ve put it together in this third-round game against Georgia.

“I’m really, really pleased for the players to have been able to improve each performance and obviously get the win.

“We didn’t start very well, but credit to the guys, they stayed on task and managed the game really well.

“They definitely improved around the physicality required and their effectiveness to score some really good tries.”