Rugby Union: Scots travel a Country mile

New South Wales Country XV 13 Scotland 34

SCOTLAND secured the win they wanted over the New South Wales Country XV before the tourists' match against the state's Super 12 side in Sydney on Saturday. However, the Scots had to work hard for their victory against a determined Country side.

Of greater concern for Scotland was that for a second consecutive game their points flow dried up in the later stages of the game. However, the tourists brought some of the disruption on themselves by making six substitutions in the last quarter.

"I was disappointed that we faded late in the game, but we wanted to get as many subs on to the park as possible,"the captain, Rob Wainwright, said.

Scotland responded to Nathan Friis' early try when Graeme Burns exploited an unguarded blindside to run in unopposed. The Scots went further ahead through Rowen Shepherd and Gregor Townsend, Derrick Lee converting both scores to give Scotland a lead of 19-3.

A penalty by Lee after the break stretched the lead for the Scots, who then went further ahead thanks to Gordon McIlwham. But they had to wait a further 20 minutes before registering more points, via a penalty try which Lee improved.

NSW Country XV: Tries: Hurdley 2. Penalties: Friis. Scotland: Tries: Burns, McIlwham, Shepherd, Townsend, penalty. Penalty: Lee. Conversions: Lee 3.

NSW Country XV: Whare; Needham, Friis, Condon, Job; Harding, Merrick; Nolan, Frankin, Petty, Mitchell, Quinn, Fava, Hurdley, Whittle.

Scotland: Lee; Gilmour, C Murray, Shepherd (Officer 70), Longstaff; Townsend, Burns (Fairley, 73); McIlwham, McKenzie, Stewart (Hilton, 70), S Murray (Metcalfe, 66), Campbell, Wainwright, Simpson (Reid, 66), Roxburgh.

Referee: L Bray (Australia).