Spanish fly

Scotland unconvincing as World Cup contenders

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Posted: Saturday October 16, 1999 02:08 PM

Cameron Murray (with ball) led the Scots with 18 points. AP

EDINBURGH, Scotland (CNN/SI) -- Scotland beat Spain 48-0 to advance to the Second Round of the World Cup where it will face the Group D runner-up at Murrayfield, Scotland.

Although the Scots scored seven tries, the victory coming as it did against Spain will not succeed in greatly boosting morale. Their performance a mere shadow of the standard of play that won then 1999 Five Nations title.

The Scots, fielding several reserves, led 22-0 at the break, it was their Kiwi flanker Cameron Mather, who scored two of their tries.

Scotland got its first points on the board after five minutes with a penalty from Duncan Hodge. The Scots were then awarded a penalty try when the Spanish collapsed a scrum. Hodge converted to make it 10-0.

The Spanish, who have lost all three group matches in their first ever World Cup appearance, were content to defend in numbers, as they did against South Africa, to try and keep the score respectable.

Scotland went further ahead on 23 minutes when Mather pushed over to score his first try in his second Test. Hodge converted.

Five minutes later, Shaun Longstaff cleanly collected a bouncing ball fed from the scrum to touch down in the left corner. Hodge failed to convert.

Three minutes into the second half, center James McLaren burst through a trio of Spanish defenders to score a try and make it 27-0.

Mather then scored his second of the game on 50 minutes, pouncing after some fine driving by the Scottish pack. Hodge converted to make it 34-0.

Then it was the turn of Cameron Murray who touched down after a good move along the Scottish backs. Hodge made it 41-0.

Hodge then turned try-scorer, sailing through an outwitted Spanish defense on 61 minutes to score under the posts. He converted to make it 48-0, and take his personal tally to 18.

The game ended with a rare burst of Spanish attacking, but even though the Scots were pinned back for several minutes, Spain's valiant attempts to get a try failed.

Scotland

Spain

Referee: Clayton Thomas, Wales.

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.