Glasgow emerged victorious in both the under-17 national selection fixtures staged on the Murrayfield back pitches tonight.

The first match saw Glasgow Whites defeat Edinburgh Blacks 40-0, while the second game, more closely-contested, saw Glasgow Blacks defeat Edinburgh Reds 24-12.  The Glasgow teams comprised boys from both Glasgow and Caledonia, whereas the Edinburgh team consisted of players from the capital and the Borders.

Watched by a crowd which included Edinburgh Rugby head-coach Michael Bradley, Ayr club coach Kenny Murray and Edinburgh pro-players Tom Brown and David Denton, the matches were described as “most worthwhile”, by Scottish Rugby’s Head of Player Development, Stephen Gemmell.

He said: “Players have been asked to come together and apply their skills in a new environment which is similar to the experience they will face at international level.

“The encouraging thing in both games was that there was continuity and intensity which has allowed players to perform.”

In the first game Glasgow’s greater physique and the manner in which they brought it to bear saw them dominate possession.  Given that platform, Glasgow stand-off George Horne had pleasing variety to his game, whether with ball in hand or with boot.  Glasgow’s tries came from Mark Vallance, Cameron Hughes, Paul Ramsey (2), Cameron McCormick and Angus Leishman.  Horne kicked five conversions.

In the second part of the double-header, Ayr centre Gavin Lowe was the influential figure.  His skill set up the opening try for Andrew Mill and then he weighed in for a brace of scores either side of the interval.  Lowe also added the conversion to Mill’s try while Luke Earl-Wright slotted the extras to Lowe’s second score.

Edinburgh wing Scott Murchie showed good strength to touchdown between both Lowe’s tries and the game ended with tries from respective locks Ruaridh Knott and Lewis Carmichael, Matthew Douglas converting the latter’s effort.

Next in the under-17 calendar is a trial match in the spring followed by a preparation week ahead of an international against England.

Edinburgh Rugby Blacks
 
15 Ryan Frost – Stewart’s Melville College
14 Sam Bandeen – Hawick HS / Hawick Wands
13 Alex Swan – Edinburgh Academy / Currie RFC
12 Rory Watt – Portobello HS / Musselburgh RFC
11 Iain Sim – Berwickshire HS / Duns Colts
10 Scott Docherty – Stewart’s Melville College
9 Douglas Crawford – Merchiston Castle School
1 Calum Crookshanks – Earlston HS / Melrose Wasps
2 Rory Scott – Trinity Academy
3 Chris Baikie – Dunbar GS / Dunbar RFC
4 Craig Kyle – Hawick HS / Hawick Wands
5 Gregor Law – Jed GS / Jed Thistle
6 Angus Sinclair – Merchiston Castle School
7 Richard Harrison – Peebles HS / Peebles Colts
8 William Brown - George Watson’s College
 
16 Aaron Hogg – Hawick HS / Hawick PSA
17 Adam Wright – Langholm Academy / Langholm Colts
18 Billy Waddle – Kelso HS / Kelso Quins
19 Matthew Wilson – Jed GS / Jed Thistle
20 Andrew Thomson – Jed HS / Jed Thistle
21 Scott Halliday – Peebles HS / Peebles Colts
22 Glenn Welsh – Hawick HS / Hawick PSA
23 Scott Richardson – Jed GS / Jed Thistle

Glasgow Warriors Whites

15 Angus Rennie – Strathallan / Deeside RFC
14 John Clark – Highland RFC
13 Connor Simpkins – Dunfermline RFC
12 Cameron Hughes – Moray RFC
11 Graham Bryden – Kelvinside Academy
10 George Horne – Strathallan / Howe of Fife RFC
9 Callum Willison – Howe of Fife RFC
1 Mark Vallance – West of Scotland
2 Grant Stewart – Dalziel RFC
3 Alan Miller – Ayr RFC / Garnock RFC
4 Ali Mackie – Dollar Academy / Stirling County RFC
5 David Carruthers – West of Scotland
6 Josh Thomson – Kelvinside Academy
7 Robert Brown – Hamilton RFC
8 Douglas Hitchcock – Ellon RFC

16 Cameron McCormick – Ayr RFC
17 Michael Gibson – West of Scotland
18 Craig Goldie – Dumfries Saints
19 Cameron Gilchrist – High School of Glasgow / West of Scotland
20 Angus Leishman – Stirling County RFC
21 Grant Baird – Marr College
22 Paul Ramsey – West of Scotland
23 Archie Russell – Stirling County RFC

Referee: Neil Muir

Edinburgh Rugby Reds
 
15 Richard Taylor – Earlston HS / Melrose Wasps
14 Scott Murchie – Stewart’s Melville College
13 Sean Mackle - Loretto
12 Matthew Douglas – Hawick HS / Hawick YM
11 Cameron Pye – Peebles HS / Peebles Colts
10 Henry Slater – Merchiston Castle School
9 Duncan Swanson – Edinburgh Academy1 William Kesley – Stewart’s Melville College
2 Cameron Mackay – Earlston HS / Melrose Wasps
3 Andrew McWilliam – Edinburgh Academy / Currie RFC
4 Angus Runciman – Earlston HS / Melrose Wasps
5 Lewis Carmichael – North Berwick HS
6 Karl Main – Dunbar GS / Dunbar RFC
7 Rory Simpson – Edinburgh Academy
8 Finlay Simpson – Hawick HS / Hawick PSA

16 Murray Bryce – Earlston HS / Melrose Wasps
17 Reece Patterson – North Berwick HS
18 Michael Gillespie – George Watson’s College
19 Neil Irvine-Hess - George Watson’s College
20 Scott Burnside – North Berwick HS / RFC
21 Ally Johnstone – Kelso Quins
22 Russell Mackay – Earlston HS / Melrose Wasps
23 William Edwards – Fettes College
 
 Glasgow Warriors Blacks

15 Andrew Mill – Marr College
14 Gregor Urquhart – Hyndland / Hillhead/Jordanhill
13 Gavin Lowe – Ayr RFC
12 Harry Walker – Glasgow Academy / Glasgow Accies
11 Craig Rintoul – Strathallan / Howe of Fife RFC
10 Luke Earle-Wright – Robert Gordon’s College / Deeside RFC
9 Ruaridh Bottomley – Hutchesons / Ayr RFC
1 William Dineen – Dollar Academy / Stirling County RFC
2 Stuart Govan – Stirling County RFC
3 Angus Wallace – Deeside RFC
4 Ewan Bulger – Ayr RFC
5 Ruaridh Knott – Highland RFC
6 Tom Christie – Deeside RFC
7 Callum Dalrymple – High School of Glasgow / Glasgow Hawks
8 Ben Johnston – Marr College

16 Trevor Jones – Moray RFC
17 Drew Young – Madras RFC
18 Scott Goodwin – Dumfries Saints
19 Liam Quarm – Dunfermline RFC
20 Andrew Stewart – Stirling County RFC
21 Ross Brooks – Stirling County RFC
22 Ciaran White – Glasgow Academy
23 Fraser Morrison – Dollar Academy

Referee: Euan Haggerty.