Scotland suffered defeat in their first home game of the Six Nations despite a spirited second half showing against U20 World Champions France at the Hive in Edinburgh.

The visitors had a 26-0 lead at half time but the game finished with France scoring just three more points while Scotland earned themselves 14 in the second period.

There was an early scare when Joe Karaba robbed Scotland of the ball and made a lung bursting run forward and almost made it the entire length of the pitch before a great tackle from Isaac Coates forced a lineout.

Scotland were showing good character and keeping a talented French side out with no real scoring opportunities in the opening 10 minutes for the visitors, although it felt like this was a home game for France with the split of the crowd definitely in favour of them.

It didn’t last much longer either and when the French got ball in hand they played some exciting rugby and it eventually found it’s way to Xan Mousques and the full back burst through Scotland and over the line for the first try o the match before Axel Desperes added the extras.

And from there it felt like the floodgates might open as France got their second try of the night through Hoani Bosmorin who was looking a real threat throughout with his quick feet and inventive movement but he was forced off after picking up an injury while scoring. The extras were once again added and Scotland were majorly on the backfoot.

And a third followed on 30 minutes when France won the lineout and Thomas Souberbie found his way over the line and they still managed to find time to get another one with the last play of the half when Mathis Ferreira managed to get over the line and it was 26-0 at the break with no signs of Scotland getting themselves on the board.

But they started the second half well and did manage to get a score and it as some great play from Murdoch Lock to take a tap penalty and skip past France to go under between he posts before Isaac Coates added the extras.

A yellow card went the way of France’s Tolofua and Scotland took full advantage right away to drag themselves back into things with Jerry Blyth-Lafferty getting over the line with Coates adding the extras.

A penalty from Desperes put a bit more of a gap between the teams after that to dampen Scotland’s comeback and there was no more scoring but the home side can be pleased with their character in the second period.

Scotland: Watson (Hocking 66), Johnston, Gwynn, Yule, Caqusau, Coates, Lock (Patterson, 61), Morris (Job 74), Deans, Young (Blyth-Lafferty 39), Norrie, Currie (Burke 54), Hart (Clarke 74), McConnell, Douglas, Morris

Replacements: Smyth, Whitefield

Try Scorers: Lock 54, Blyth-Lafferty 61

Conversions: Coates 54, 61

France: Mousques, Biasotto, Brau Boirie, Tacolla (Daunivucu 57), Bosmorin (Cotarmanac’h 21), Desperes, Souverbie, Aoaud (Ametlla 50), Chauvin (Akrab 50), Affane (Bouare 61), Mezou, Corso (Gambini 59), Tuifua(Zamora, 66), Karaba (Tolofua 36), Ferreira  

Try scorers: Mousques 13, Bosmorin 20, Souberbie 30, Ferreira 40

Conversions: Desperes 13, 20, 40

Penalties: Desperes 70