Young Scots pass Finnish test

The game was a curtain raiser to the senior team's Six Nations against Ireland. But the young Scots were equal to the task, winning 17-7

Rugby in Finland is a minority sport - the climate sees to that. The winters also dictate that the game is a summer sport, though one club - Jyväskylä Rugby Club - is internationally famous for its annual winter "lumirugbya", or "snow rugby", tournament.

However, female participation is strong - better than a third of all registered players in Finland are female - one of the highest percentages in the world.

Today's match was the first of three games for the Finnish national XVs team in 2013 as they look to develop their team after their elimination from the World Cup at the European "B" Championship last season.

The action took place on the upper pitch at Lasswade, a picturesque setting if somewhat windswept, and the Scots girls - who have only come together as a group on a handful of occasions - were clearly enjoying their rugby from the off.

Sustained pressure and some great risk-taking in attack - most of which came off! - led to the first try from captain and stand-off Lyndsay O'Donnell which was deftly converted by fullback Amanda Moore to put the home side ahead 7-0 early in the first half.The Finnish fought back with the action see-sawing across the halfway line, though never threatening the Scottish tryline. The Scots girls had been instructed to 'go out and enjoy themselves' by the coaching team and they certainly were as a second glorious score was added by lock Cat Syme. The conversion attempt was just out of range as the sides stopped for half time with the score 12-0.As the second half got underway both sides were looking to tire after the frantic pace of the opening 40 minutes and mistakes slipped in with fumbled passes, knock-ons and forward passes.The Scots found their second wind midway through the half, however, a real team effort seeing the pack worry the Finnish whitewash, no 8 Alex Read ending up at ground level to claim the try. Unfortunately an awkward landing saw her leave the field as a precaution, after sustaining some bruising. The break in play caused some momentum to be lost and the Scots' conversion attempt came up short.

With the score at 17-0, Finland put their foot on the gas in the closing ten minutes and the try which had been threatening came (from captain Minna Raatikka), the score converted by Susanna Karvinen to make it 17-7 at full time.A solid performance from a very young Scottish side, giving them plenty to build on for their next match, against Hartpury College, next month.

Scotland head coach Jules Maxton said: "We knew it was going to be a test today as a lot of these players have never been in this environment before so I'm absolutely delighted that they produced a win."

The teams at Lasswade were:

Finland:15 Susanna Karvinen, 14 Jenni Mäkirinta, 13 Riikka Turtiainen, 12 Anne-Mari Runsala, 11 Riikka Vainio, 10 Noora Plattonen, 9 Eveliina Sapattinen,1 Laura Johansson, 2 Karoliina Levy, 3 Teija Alasalmi, 4 Heta Närhi, 5 Piia Vuorinen, 6 Reetta Tenhu, 7 Ulla Tuomainen, 8 Minna Raatikka

Substitutes: 16 Karoliina Tuominen, 17 Maija Kumpula, 18 Riina Ala-Tuori, 19 Beatrice Lindell, 20 Mira Saarikoski, 21 Hanna Visuri, 22 Jonna Tynjälä, 23 Meri Suvanto, 24 Janni Tuominen

Scotland U20:15 Amanda Moore (Hillhead), 14 Emily Irving (Ayr); 13 Rosemary Dolan (Glasgow Univ); 12 Hannah Smith (Stoneygate); 11 Jodie Hutton (Morgan); 10 Lyndsay O'Donnell (C) (Worcester); 9 Jenny Maxwell (Leeds Met); 1 Fiona Wylie (Lismore); 2 Lisa Williamson (Glasgow Univ); 3 Julie Campbell (Hillhead); 4 Emma Wassell (Murrayfield); 5 Cat Syme (Murrayfield); 6 Ailish Sinclair (Aberdeen Univ); 7 Rachel Cook (Murrayfield); 8 Alex Read (Murrayfield)

Substitutes: 16 Erin Hendry-Giles (Hillhead); 17 Megan Thomson (Stirling); 18 Rebecca Rainnie (Garioch); 19 Stephanie Campbell (Lismore); 20 Caitlin Sedgeworth (Aberdeen); 21 Heather Innes (Murrayfield); 22 Jeneise Miles (Cartha Queens Park); 23 Victoria Gray (Stirling)