Scotland A 24, Ireland A 18

TONY Stanger wanted to prove something to himself. His late, second

try which saved the game for the Scots may also have convinced

Scotland's top brass that he is capable of making the switch from the

wing to midfield and building on the 36 caps that he has already won,

writes Derek Douglas.

Stanger still has years of international rugby left in him and his

decision to say that he did not want to play on the wing any longer paid

off at Myreside yesterday with two tries and a more than satisfactory

all-round performance of the duties of a centre-threequarter.

''I wanted to prove to myself that I could play in the centre at

representative level,'' he said.

Scotland A coach David Johnston added that it was not for him to say

whether or not Stanger would be but a fleeting visitor to the ranks of

his shadow side but he, too, was full of praise for the Hawick man.

''He performed well. He was the match-winner with two fines tries,

both from good lead-up work in broken play.''

Stanger's midfield partner Scott Hastings also did his chances of a

recall no harm with a solid performance. He supplied the scoring pass

for Stanger's second try and also was instrumental in denying the Irish

a try, when Pat Murray was held up over the line.

Scotland played with a stiff breeze at their backs in the first half

and seemed content to let the wind do the work. They led 9-8 at the

interval, Stuart Laing's three penalty goals just keeping the heads

above water in relation to Alan McGowan's penalty and Richard Wallace's

well-taken try.

In the second half, the Scots raised their work-rate but had to claw

their way back after a drop goal by McGowan.

Stanger's first try put them ahead but, nine minutes from the end,

Mark McCall punished slack Scottish defence with a try which Niall

Malone converted.

Stuart Laing's penalty goal brought the Scots within a point of

Ireland and that seemed to be it. But Stanger's try and Laing's

conversion silenced the Irish.

Scotland A -- R Shepherd (Edinburgh Academy); H Gilmour (Heriot's FP),

A Stanger (Hawick), S Hastings (Watsonians), D Stark (Boroughmuir); S

Laing (Instonians), G Burns (Stewart's Melville FP); J Manson (Dundee HS

FP), M Scott (Orrell), S Paul (Heriot's FP), J Richardson (Edinburgh

Academy), captain, R Scott (London Scottish), F Wallace (Glasgow

High/Kelvinside), S Reid (Boroughmuir), I Smith (Gloucester).

* A LATE dropped goal gave Ireland a 24-22 victory over Scotland

yesterday in the under-21 match at Myreside.

Yesterday's results

A INTERNATIONAL

Scotland 24, Ireland 18.

UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL

Scotland 22, Ireland 24.

UNIVERSITIES INTERNATIONAL

Scotland 17, Ireland 22.

BORDER LEAGUE

Jed-Forest 24, Selkirk 19.

OTHER MATCHES

Haddington 17, CYM Dublin 5; Corstorphine 20, Suttonians 13; Preston

Lodge FP 11, City of Derry 21; Hawick 16, Biggar 13; Hawick 16, Biggar

13; West of Scotland 31, Hillhead/Jordanhill 12; Musselburgh 20,

Portadown 19; Wigtownshire 15, Annan 26; Dunbar 41, Skerries 13;

Boroughmuir 14, Stewart's Melville FP 13; Howe of Fife 15, Stirling

County XV 10; Kelso 31, Edinburgh Academicals 12; Kirkcaldy 23, Currie

18.

Schools -- Royal GS Newcastle 15, Watson's College 15; Dunfermline HS

5, Sullivan Upper School 32.