Scotland U20 hit 100 points as they thrash Hong Kong China

Finlay Doyle backed up his hat-trick in the thumping of Samoa with another treble, while back-row pair Freddy Douglas and Jonny Morris both scored braces. Matthew Urwin contributed 20 points from the tee.  

The onslaught began in the second minute as Freddy Douglas drove over from a maul and though the visitors kept the ball for a couple of minutes afterwards, Scotland’s defence looked comfortable.  

It took Scotland to the end of the first quarter to register their fourth try, with Finlay Doyle, Liam McConnell and Jonny Morris all profiting from some weak defending by the visitors to cross. Matthew Urwin was imperious from the tee to extend the lead to 28-0.  

Finlay Doyle scores one of his three tries (Image: World Rugby/SNS)

Hector Patterson slalomed through more porous tackling to score Scotland’s fifth and the outstanding Douglas added a sixth to make it 40-0 on the half-hour.  

Doyle completed his hat-trick with two tries in as many minutes to take the hosts through the half-century before the interval.  

Ludo Kolade was sent to the sin bin for a tackle off the ball shortly before the break, but Hong Kong China could not make anything of their numerical superiority.  

The avalanche of tries continued just two minutes in the second period as Johnny Ventisei added a ninth Scotland try.  

Morris scored his second after Kolade broke away, and that sparked a flurry of three tries in five minutes for the hosts as Jack Hocking and replacement Fergus Watson inflicted further damage before Jerry Blyth-Lafferty trundled over from a 5m tap penalty to make it 80-0. 

Scotland didn't score for more than 10 minutes, but a late flurry from Kolade and Ryan Burke took the hosts over a century of points for the second successive match. 

Here are five things we learned from Hive Stadium.  

Another gulf in class 

Scotland scored 19 tries in the rout of Samoa, and added XX here as they swept aside another of their opponents.  

Scotland were clearly better organised, more physical and again demonstrated a ruthlessness to put away opportunities when they arose.  

Rotation important 

Scotland head coach Kenny Murray opted to make 10 changes for this match – and he could have made more without affecting the margin of victory. It was a useful outing for many of his squad players, with Seb Stephen, Jonny Morris and Jack Hocking among those to impress.  

Kenny Murray is likely to be without number eight Morris after he picked up an injury in the second half, while lock Dylan Cockburn also limped off late on as Scotland finished with 14 men.  

Freddy Douglas outstanding 

The highly-rated openside flanker continued his excellent form with a couple of first half tries and a pair of turnovers. He looked head and shoulders above the opposition, but was the pick of the Scots in the opening 40 minutes before he departed.  

He, Liam McConnell and Robbie Deans were all removed at the break, presumably with one eye on Friday’s clash against Japan.  

Disappointing final quarter

The introduction of the bench in Tuesday's thrashing of Samoa did not affect Scotland's rhythm. The same could not be said today, with the changes - and injuries - impacting the hosts' game in the final 20 minutes. Scotland 

Scotland must win this competition 

They will play better opposition as this competition progreses, but Scotland win the World Rugby U20 Trophy and get back to the top world championship next year. The failure to do so last year has meant another season where these players have missed out on challenging themselves against the world’s best, and to do so again would be unforgiveable.  

Scotland U20: Jack Hocking, Finlay Doyle (Watson 48), Johnny Ventisei (McLean 52), Kerr Yule, Ludo Kolade, Matthew Urwin, Hector Patterson (McAlpine 52); Robbie Deans (White 40), Seb Stephen, Callum Norrie (Blyth-Lafferty 50), Dylan Cockburn, Ruaraidh Hart, Liam McConnell (J Blyth-Lafferty 40), Freddy Douglas (Currie 40), Jonny Morris (Burke 56)  

Tries: Douglas (2, 29), Doyle (9, 33, 35) McConnell (16), Morris (21, 50), Patterson (25), Ventisei (42), Hocking (53), Watson (55), J. Blyth-Lafferty (63), Kolade (76), Burke (80)

Conversions: Urwin (3, 10, 17, 22, 26, 34, 36, 42, 51, 56, 76, 80)

Yellow card: Kolade (37) 

Hong Kong China U20: Kyran Lacey, Matthew Rickard, Marcus D’Acre, Barnaby Horberry, Justin Eden (Kee 36), Blake Elliot (Blair 49); Minjun Koo (Molyneux 72), Ben Sheldon (Simons 58), Mitchell Crawford (Bennett 57), Toby Hughes, Theo Mag (Fitzhenry 61), Marco Conti, Oliver Clarke (captain) (Bannon 53), Dominic Hedley (Mahn 55) 

Referee: Nicolae Fratila (Romania)