Ewan Ashman scores hat-trick as Scotland beat USA 42-7

USA 7-42 Scotland, Audi Field, Washington DC

Ewan Ashman scored a hat-trick as Scotland defeated USA 42-7 in their clash at Audi Field in Washington DC.

They now have two wins in their American tour having defeated Canada 12-73 in the last weekend.

Scotland opened their account in the 7th minute when Adam Hastings playing for Scotland after two years sent a perfectly weighed pass for Duhan van der Merwe to touchdown as the winger levelled Stuart Hogg's tally of 27 tries which is a national record. Hastings also followed with the conversion to make it 0-7.

Scotland lost a couple of line outs in succession in the 14th and 15th minute with MacGinty even failing to convert a penalty on the second occasion. Gregor Townsend's men doubled their tally at the end of the opening quarter as Ashman completed his fifth international try at the back of a rolling maul and Hastings conversion made it 0-14.

The home side suffered another setback as David Ainuu was sin-binned in the 26th minute for a breakdown infringement and Scotland made use of the numerical advantage with their third try coming with Ashman completing his second after collecting a pass from Scott Cummings to make it 0-21.

The first and only points from the USA came around the half hour mark as they capitalised on a spill from Matt Fagerson with eventually Tommaso Boni going over the line and AJ MacGinty kicked the conversion to make it 7-21. The gap continued to remain at four points as Jack Carty missed a monster penalty goal before Ashman completed his first ever hat-trick at the stroke of half time to ensure Townsend's men completed the opening half with a 7-28 lead.

The lead was further extended in the 50th minute when Kyle Rowe broke the line sending George Horne over the line and Hastings conversion made it 7-35 before their sixth and final try came in the 74th minute when Matt Fagerson powers his way over at the back of a powerful scrum to complete a 7-42 victory.

Team line up:

USA: Carty, Mooneyham, Lopeti, Boni, Augspurger; MacGinty, Smith; Iscaro, Fawsitt, Ainu'u, Helu, Peterson (c), Golla, Ryan, Fa'anana-Schultz.

Reserves: Pifeleti, Turnbull, Mullen, Uhila, Bonasso, McVeigh, Campbell, Wilson.

Scotland: Rowe; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu (cc), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Horne; Schoeman, Ashman, Walker, Cummings, Craig, Ritchie, Darge (cc), M Fagerson.

Reserves: Smith, Sutherland, Millar Mills, Williamson, Crosbie, Dobie, Thompson, Currie.