England Counties eased to a 45-28 win over Scotland Club XV with a burst of four tries in 17 second-half minutes in a free-flowing and entertaining contest at Birmingham Moseley’s Billesley Common ground this evening.
The win avenged a heavy defeat at the hands of Scotland at Galashiels last season and included six tries with centre Steve Leonard and wing Leo Fielding scoring two each.
The Counties’ side included two former North Midlands players in their squad with lock Nile Dacres, formerly of Stourbridge but now Plymouth Albion, in the starting XV and Birmingham Moseley scrum-half Dave Brazier on the bench. Brazier got his chance early in the second half when he replaced Coventry’s Peter White.
It was former Birmingham & Solihull hooker Matt Miles, now with Old Albanians in National One, who made an early impression, burrowing over for the opening try after five minutes with Ampthill fly-half Joe Tarrant tagging on the conversion.
But Scotland, as expected, were a threat in attack and they were soon level again when Melrose centre George Taylor’s angled run took him through for a try that fly-half Chris Laidlaw improved.
A well-crafted try from Hartpury College’s Leonard, who hit the line at pace, and Tarrant’s conversion restored England’s seven point advantage, but not for long.
A stray pass, as England attacked again, was snaffled by Scotland’s left wing Jordan Edmunds, who went over from 60 metres and Laidlaw added the conversion to level the scores.
England required some ferocious defence to deny Scotland’s pack another try but it was the backs who created the next try with Edmunds crossing for his second three minutes into the second half to put England behind for the first time.
A penalty from Tarrant, after Scotland went off-side in defence, put England back in striking distance and they regained the lead when Blackheath wing Fielding went over from long range and Tarrant converted.
It was end-to-end stuff but England managed to scramble back in defence after Scotland hacked their way upfield and then launched a counter attack which led to Coventry wing James Stokes staggering over after he had been half-tackled.Tarrant again converted to open up a 10 points gap.
England pressed home their advantage with Fielding gathering his own chip ahead and crossing for his second then setting up Leonard for his second with a scything run. Moseley’s James Williams, who replaced Tarrant, maintained England’s 100 per cent record by converting both tries.
Scotland, to their credit, continued to play their part in the entertainment and completed the scoring When replacement tighthead John Cox burrowed over and Laidlaw converted.