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ST ETIENNE, France - Scotland joined New Zealand at the top of Pool C with a lively 56-10 win over rugby World Cup debutants Portugal at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard overnight.
The Scots scored three early converted tries and powered home late in the game to finish with eight converted
tries.
The Six-Nations strugglers, stirred on by bagpipe renditions of 'Amazing Grace' and 'Scotland The Brave' from their supporters, are fighting it out for the runners-up spot in the group behind the rampaging All Blacks in the race to reach the last eight.
Steered around the field by first five-eighth Dan Parks and with free-running fullback Rory Lamont claiming a brace of tries, the Scots always had the measure of Portugal's willing yet outgunned Los Lobos novices.
It was just the start Scotland needed ahead of their next group match against the tougher Romanians at home in Edinburgh on September 18.
Scotland began powerfully and led 21-0 in almost as many minutes with three converted tries as their forwards dominated the set pieces and mauls and monopolised lineout possession.
Rory Lamont grabbed the opening two tries, bursting through two tackles to score in the 12th minute and Parks was again the initiator as he scored three minutes later.
Hooker Scott Lawson claimed a spectacular try running on to Parks' high kick to the left corner to catch the ball and score to stretch the Scots' advantage to 21-0.
But the pro-Portuguese crowd went into raptures when winger Pedro Carvalho crashed over between two tackles after concerted pressure from the willing Los Lobos in the 28th minute.
Scotland's reply was immediate, second five-eighth Rob Dewey regained possession from the kick-off and broke a couple of tackles to plant the ball over the line and restore his team's advantage.
Portuguese fly-half Duarte Cardoso Pinto landed a penalty to more cheers to trail 28-10.
The Scots lost prop Allan Jacobsen with a left ankle injury minutes before halftime and was replaced by Gavin Kerr.
Portugal were reduced to 14 men when open-side flanker Joao Uva received a yellow card nearing halftime, with Scotland in the driving seat heading into the second half.
The Portuguese thought they claimed another uplifting try minutes after the resumption but Carvalho's 75-metre intercept was called back for off-side, swiftly cutting short his celebrations as he looked downfield to see referee Steve Walsh's outstretched arm.
Portugal had more of the play early in the second half before Parks darted over midway through the second half off winger Simon Webster's pass to push the Scots out of any danger at 35-10.
Replacements Hugo Southwell, Kelly Brown and Ross Ford scored converted tries to boost the final margin for Scotland.
- AFP