Scots knocked over by call that never came

Rugby League

Scotland 20 France 22

A controversial try three minutes from time deprived Scotland of victory over France in a thoroughly entertaining international at Partick Thistle last night.

Scotland looked to have won the game when Danny Russell set up the position for Matt Crowther to go over and convert his own try in the 69th minute. However, confusion in their defence allowed the French centre, Arnaud Dulac, to pick up a loose ball and scamper in.

The Scots appeared to be waiting for a knock-on decision that seemed to have been given, but when the referee allowed the score the game was lost in the most cruel of fashions.

The home side, a mixture of Scots and Englishmen, Australians and New Zealanders with Scottish antecedents, fought back from an early try from Freddy Banquet, with Russell and Gary Christie putting them ahead.

But Jerome Guisset, before half-time and Fabien Devecchi, early in the second half, put France back in a strong position.

Scotland regathered their momentum as Phil Veivers' pass sent in Stuart McCarthy. Veivers also served up the ball for Crowther to put them into what should have been a winning position.

SCOTLAND: Mardon; McCarthy (both London), Crowther (Sheffield), McLaren (Wakefield), Christie (Bradford); Veivers (Huddersfield), Duffy (Warrington); Meill, Russell (both Huddersfield), Laughton (Wakefield), Bell (Dewsbury), Carr (Sheffield), Solomon (Lancashire). Substitutes used: Higgins (London), Dixon (Hull), McKelvie (Dewsbury), Duncan (London).

FRANCE: Bourrell (Limoux); Banquet (Wakefield), Dulac (Tonneins), Vergniol (St Gaudens), Pastre-Courtine (Keighley); Garcia (Sheffield), Devecchi (Paris); Teixido (Limoux), Tena (Catalan), Cabestany (Paris), Pech (Pia), Tallec (Wigan), Chamorin (Paris). Substitutes used: Cambres (Catalan), El Khalouki (Toulouse), Guisset (St Esteve).

Referee: T Alibert (Albi, Fr).