Scotland in easy win

It was easy for Scotland against East Coast-Poverty Bay

East Coast-Poverty Bay 10-51 Scotland

Scotland got their New Zealand tour back on track with an eight-try demolition of an East Coast-Poverty Bay combination side.

A first-half hat-trick of tries from David Officer and a superb double from Chris Paterson helped Scotland to a 51-10 win on Tuesday.

The Edinburgh Reivers duo led the scoring spree at Rugby Park but it was an impressive collective effort from Ian McGeechan's largely second-string side.

They convincingly put their opening defeat by the New Zealand Vikings behind them.

Leading 18-0 at half-time courtesy of Officer's try treble and a Paterson penalty, the stand-off's first score after the interval was followed by further efforts from Don Mackinnon, Stewart Campbell and replacement Shaun Longstaff.

Satisfactory

Paterson completing the scoring with his second try and added four conversions into the bargain.

Equally significantly, there were strong performances from flanker Martin Leslie and lock Scott Murray on their returns from long injury lay-offs.

Both lasted more than an hour as they look to build up match fitness ahead of the Tests with the All Blacks.

Wings Cameron Murray and Longstaff, the latter marking his return with an excellent try, also safely negotiated their comebacks, while the displays of number eight Jon Petrie, scrum-half Graeme Beveridge and hooker Steve Scott all boded well for the rest of the tour.

It was a satisfactory afternoon's work for the midweek Scots.

Teams:

E Coast/Poverty Bay: Harrison, Bright, Walker, Kerekere, Allan, Hune, Crosby, Rickard, Allen, Fotuaiki, Liku, Leawere, Raihania, Martin, Lewis. Replacements: Leefe, Jones, Fougere, Pohatu, Broughton, Taingahue, Hutana.
Scotland: Lee, C. Murray, Officer, Shiel, Moir, Paterson, Beveridge, Jacobsen, S. Scott, B. Stewart, S. Murray, Campbell, Mackinnon, M. Leslie, Petrie. Replacements: Brotherstone, M. Stewart, Fullarton, R. Reid, Burns, Longstaff, A. Bulloch. Referee: Kelvin Deaker (Hawkes Bay)