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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark McDougall

Scotland 34 Samoa 0 as Gregor Townsend's secure first win with dominant display

Scotland got their first win of the 2019 Rugby World Cup by thrashing Samoa.

It was a game that was tougher than the scoreline suggests with stifling heat under the closed roof in the Kobe Misaki stadium.

The conditions made handling the ball very difficult so with almost 30 minutes on the clock and the score at 3-0 through Greig Laidlaw's penalty, it seemed like it could be a worry.

Then Finn Russell produced a moment of magic with a great cross field kick to send Sean Maitland on his way and the Saracens wing had a simple finish which was converted by Laidlaw.

(Getty Images)

It was the kind of move that makes Russell one of the most highly-rated players in the world but it's something that is often not seen enough in a Scotland shirt.

You wait ages for one try to come along then two come in the space of a matter of minutes with Laidlaw touching down after a mazy run.

It was a simple conversion and all of a sudden Scotland were in complete control of the match.

(PA)

Stuart Hogg then produced another stunning effort when he kicked a drop goal from 40 yards to put Scotland 20-0 up at the break.

The second half continued in a similar fashion with Scotland in control but Samoa put up a stronger defence, although their indiscipline let them down and they were eventually punished with a yellow card and a penalty try.

It looked like the bonus point wouldn't come, particularly when Maitland appeared to touch down early as he tried to dive across the line.

Ed Fidow stopped him though and he was shown a second yellow card with a penalty try awarded again giving Scotland the bonus point and a 34-0 victory.

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