Disappointment for Bryan Redpath’s young side as Scots fall short against Georgia

Scotland finished the 2018 World Rugby under-20 championship in 10th place after a 39-31 defeat against Georgia at Béziers’ Stade de la Mediterranee.

The Georgians made a storming start to the ninth-place play-off when tighthead prop Luca Japaridze powered over the line but Scotland responded immediately with Robbie Smith finishing a driving maul.

In a feisty start to proceedings, Scotland’s Guy Graham and Georgia’s Gela Aprasidze were sin-binned in the 14th minute.

A Logan Trotter try was converted by Charlie Chapman as Scotland gained the initiative before Georgian winger Konstantine Marjanishvili levelled the match.

The Scots were ahead at the break after Trotter grabbed his second of the match after intercepting on his own try-line before running 95 metres with the ball to score.

But the Georgians proved too strong for Bryan Redpath’s young side in the second half with two tries from Tengiz Gigolashvili and another score from Marjanishvili leaving the Scots trailing 36-19.

They fought back with Kyle Rowe and James Miller touching down but a Tedo Abzhandadze penalty ensured Georgia held on for the win.