Scotland ended their 2015 Four Nations Championships with a frustrating 8-20 defeat to Ireland in Bray last night, leaving them with the wooden spoon for the second successive year.
Nathan Graham's team were in the game until the closing stages and the coach was disappointed that his troops could not finish on a high.
Ruaridh Cuthbertson from Teesside University scored from close range out on the wing and co-captain Gavin Grant of the University of Bath rampaged 35 yards to score, outpacing the Irish full-back for Scotland's second try, but neither were converted and Ireland pulled away to win a tight game.
"We missed a lot of opportunities by not getting organised well enough," admitted Graham. "There was plenty of effort as usual but we weren't smart enough. We were all gutted after the game - the staff and the players. We need to be better than that."
Scotland host the tournament next year and will be looking to continue their improvement that saw them lose the opening game 56-6 to eventual winners England last Sunday, then go down 34-7 in a second-half demise against Wales on Tuesday, before finishing with their tightest match.
"The most positive aspect is how many young players we have blooded this week," said Graham. "There are quite a few teenagers in this squad, boys stepping up from the Under-19s, and that is tough for them as they are playing against fellas who are 21, 22 or 23. That is a big difference in rugby league. They will have learned a lot, I hope."
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