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Bouncing back Scotland earns 31-8 win at home over Samoa
EDINBURGH (Reuters) -- Scotland, defeated by world champion Australia last weekend, bounced back with a 31-8 win over Samoa at Murrayfield on Saturday. The Scots built up a 14-8 lead at halftime after three penalties from flyhalf Gregor Townsend and an unconverted try by number eight Jon Petrie. Samoa, much stronger in defense than in its 50-6 thrashing by Wales last weekend in Cardiff, replied with a try by fullback Happy Valley Patu and a penalty by flyhalf Quintan Sanft. In the second half, Scotland took control of the game, scoring three more tries by winger Kenny Logan, prop Tom Smith and center Alan Bulloch to finish easy winners. Townsend hit over one conversion as the Scots finished with two wins from three international matches in November, having lost to Australia and crushed the United States. Scotland coach Ian McGeechan said the wet conditions made it difficult to turn their domination of possession into more points on the board. "We do not have a roof to close at Murrayfield so we have to play with the conditions," he said. "I thought that in difficult conditions we eventually constructed a very good tactical game." He admitted to a change in their tactical approach after halftime. "In the first half, we played too much in front of them but we wanted to turn them and put the ball behind them. I think we chose good options in the second half," he said. McGeechan also conceded that Scotland had not been patient in the first half. "We tried to force the game too much and I think we tended to play the game too laterally." Despite Scotland's intention of making another brisk start, it was Samoa that struck first with a penalty goal from Kirkcaldy-based Sanft. A quick response in kind by Gregor Townsend leveled the scores, but Scotland, denied what seemed a perfectly good try by Kenny Logan, had to wait 15 minutes before making the breakthrough. John Leslie was the architect, with the New Zealand-born center delaying his pass perfectly before putting number eight Jon Petrie in for a try in the corner. Samoa replied with a move involving Ferreti Tuilagi and replacement Tia Suemai that ended with fullback Patu winning the chase for the touch down. But Scotland soon took over the scoring as Townsend found his kicking form to put over two penalty goals in the final five minutes of the first half. Scotland made a positive start to the second half with impressive driving play from the forwards and astute kicking from Townsend. It was rewarded when Logan was driven over by the pack for the Scots' second try. Then, when Townsend found touch in the corner from a penalty kick, the Scots forwards drove the ensuing line-out for prop Tom Smith to claim another try. In a final effort, Scotland counterattacked through Leslie and Cammy Murray. Alan Bulloch profited from Filipo Toala's inability to deal with Murray's kick ahead to score under the posts, leaving Townsend with an easy conversion for the final points of the game. Teams Scotland - 15-Chris Paterson, 14-Cammy Murray, 13-Alan Bulloch (21-Duncan Hodge, 74th), 12-John Leslie, 11-Kenny Logan; 10-Gregor Townsend, 9-Bryan Redpath (20-Graeme Beveridge, 74th), 8-Jon Petrie, 7-Budge Pountney (captain), 6-Jason White (19-Ross Beattie 76th), 5-Richard Metcalfe (18-Stuart Grimes, 55th), 4-Scott Murray, 3-George Graham (17-Gordon McIlwham, 50th), 2-Steve Brotherstone (16-Gordon Bulloch, 55th), 1-Tom Smith Samoa - 15-Happy Valley Patu; 14-Mussolini Schuster (Tia Suemai, 24th), 13-Faapulou Soolefei, 12-Ferreti Tuilagi, 11-Filipo Toala; 10-Quintan Sanft (18-Anthony Toleofoa, 64th), 9-Steve Sooialo; 8-Luke Mealamu (19-Alfie Mika, 75th), 7-Junior Maligi (20-Joe Mamea, 66th), 6-Alfie Vaeluaga (22-Tua Veru, 75th), 5-Setefano Tone, 4-Sika Poching, 3-Polo Asi, 2-Onohungai Matauuiau, 1-Dan Tafeamalii (21-Mahonri Schwalger, 64th).
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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