England Community Lions open Under 16 Home Nations Championship campaign with a convincing win over Scotland

England Community Lions opened their Under 16 Home Nations Championship campaign with a nine-try success over plucky Scotland in Glasgow.

Scotland made a good start, pouncing on a Lions error from the kick-off but couldn't take advantage and on their next possession the visitors went seventy metres with fullback Jayden Tyson claiming the try and Presten Burgess goaling.

Six minutes later the Lions added their second score when an outstanding offload from Ellis Holliday found Saul Campbell and the centre ran to the line.

A third try soon followed after 12 minutes when swift passing to the left resulted in Travis-Jack Morse crashing over by the corner flag.

The visitors were running red hot in the Spring sunshine and claimed another score after 18 minutes when scrum half Bobby Dickinson turned in a tackle and released for Declan Rigby to scamper in.

Second row Mason Bowes bounced away from several would-be tacklers to touch down under the posts and Dickinson goaled to stretch the advantage to 0-24.

One more try followed when Dylan Morris proved too quick for the marker after Holliday was hauled down.

Scotland then rallied and held the Lions until five minutes into the second half when Morris scored his second try with more nifty footwork and Dickinson goaled from the touchline to extend the advantage to 0-36.

Tyson burned off the cover a couple of minutes later, dashing in from 40 metres, and Dickinson's fourth goal made it 0-42.

On the back of solid efforts from the likes Cameron Hinchcliffe and skipper Drew Docherty, Scotland stemmed the Lions attack, conceding just one further try from Holliday before scoring a deserved consolation near the end when Kieran Massey kicked brilliantly over to the left. Although the ball evaded Zach Clayton, it stood up perfectly for Max Blackie to swoop. The centre was unable to convert and the final whistle sounded a couple of minutes later.

Scotland line-up: Lewis Wright, Zach Clayton, Callum Duncan, Harry Woodard, Declan Smith; Charlie Benn, Kieran Massey; Cameron Hinchcliffe, Isaac MacLean, Liam Bourhill, Charlie Jackson, Archie Turriff, Drew Docherty (c). Subs: Cullin Stoddart, Calvin Spiers. Angus Shelton, George Holmes, Max Blackie, Michael Warner.

Try: Blackie (68).
Goals: Blackie 0/1.

England Community Lions: Jayden Tyson, Travis-Jack Morse, Saul Campbell, Archie Storr, Ellis Holliday; Presten Burgess, Bobby Dickinson; Joe Higgins Meadows, Declan Rigby, Kolby Harmer, Noel Gardner Lewis, Mason Bowes, Reece Galvin (c). Subs: Dylan Morris, Jack Barker, Brad McDonagh, Alex Richardson, Seb Jeffers, Junior Redmond, Josh Doran.

Tries: Tyson (2, 47), Campbell (8), Morse (12), Rigby (18), Bowes (22), Morris (24, 45), Holliday (62).

Goals: Burgess 1/4, Dickinson 4/5.

Half-time: 0-30

Full-time: 4-46

Referee: Matty Bolton

By Dave Parkinson

Photo Credit: Ben Challis Sport