Ireland were outscored by five tries to two at Murrayfield today as they made a losing start to their series of Rugby World Cup warm-up matches. A hat-trick of touchdowns from centre Andrew Henderson was key as Scotland beat the men in green for the first time since 2001.

Scotland have ended their dismal losing sequence against Ireland at Murrayfield with a 31-21 victory in the rain. The home side had been defeated by the Irish in their seven previous encounters but, with coach Frank Hadden fielding virtually a full-strength team, they were sharper and more enthusiastic in the World Cup warm-up match. Ally Hogg, Euan Murray and Andrew Henderson - with a hat-trick - touched down for the Scots while Isaac Boss and Andrew Trimble replied for Ireland.

Eddie O'Sullivan's men improved dramatically in the second half but it was all in vain as their world cup preparations stumbled.

With O'Sullivan naming his final 30-man squad for next month's Rugby World Cup on Sunday, several Irish players were striving to make a final good impression, but found it difficult in the face of both treacherous conditions and a general lack of quality possession. Scotland made the perfect start when, after the forwards retained the ball through several phases of possession, Hogg touched down from close range in the fourth minute.Chris Paterson, winning his 75th cap in his favoured stand-off role, landed the conversion to give Hadden's side a 7-0 lead but Paddy Wallace reduced the deficit by three points with a 10th-minute penalty.

Scotland remained in the ascendancy, though, and such was their early confidence that captain Jason White - back in the team after nine months out with a knee injury - rejected the opportunity of taking two very kickable penalties as he sought a second try.Ireland held firm until the 24th minute when centre Henderson muscled his way over for his sixth international try, Paterson adding a straightforward conversion to make it 14-3. Scotland continued to press for a third try before the break and it was prop Murray who rewarded the home side for their dominance with his second try for his country on 38 minutes to leave the score 19-6 at half-time.

Scotland's superiority continued after the break when, six minutes into the half, Henderson fell over the line in the corner for his side's fourth try - and another created by first-class work from the pack.  Ireland replied within two minutes though, Bowe making the initial break before the ball reached Boss, who eluded both Sean and Rory Lamont to score his team's first try of the afternoon.

Suddenly Ireland were a different outfit and Trimble touched down in the 55th minute thanks to a huge overlap, before Wallace added a penalty to make it 24-21 at the midway point in the half.  A flurry of substitutions on both sides almost inevitably caused the game to become more fractured but, six minutes from the end, Henderson latched on to a half break from Dan Parks to crash over for his third try.  Paterson added the conversion to leave the score 31-21 and make the game finally safe for the home side as they ended their bad run against the Irish.

WORLD CUP WARM-UP MATCH: Saturday, August 11
SCOTLAND 31 IRELAND 21, Murrayfield (Att: 25,127)

Scorers: Scotland: Tries: Allister Hogg, Andrew Henderson 3, Euan Murray; Cons: Chris Paterson 2, Dan Parks
Ireland: Tries: Isaac Boss, Andrew Trimble; Con: Paddy Wallace; Pens: Paddy Wallace 2, Geordan Murphy

TIME LINE: 3 minutes - Scotland try: Allister Hogg - 5-0; conversion: Chris Paterson - 7-0; 10 mins - Ireland penalty: Paddy Wallace - 7-3; 24 mins - Scotland try: Andrew Henderson - 12-3; conversion: Chris Paterson - 14-3; 27 mins - Ireland penalty; Geordan Murphy - 14-6; 37 mins - Scotland try: Euan Murray - 19-6; conversion: missed by Chris Paterson; Half-time - Scotland 19 Ireland 6; 46 mins - Scotland try: Andrew Henderson - 24-6; conversion: missed by Chris Paterson - 24-6; 48 mins - Ireland try: Isaac Boss - 24-11; conversion: Paddy Wallace - 24-13; 55 mins - Ireland try: Andrew Trimble - 24-18; conversion: missed by Paddy Wallace - 24-18; 59 mins - Ireland penalty: Paddy Wallace - 24-21; 75 mins - Scotland try: Andrew Henderson - 29-21; conversion: Dan Parks - 31-21; Full-time - Scotland 31 Ireland 21

Scotland: Rory Lamont; Sean Lamont, Rob Dewey, Andrew Henderson, Simon Webster; Chris Paterson, Mike Blair; Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Nathan Hines, Jim Hamilton, Jason White (capt), Allister Hogg, Simon Taylor.

Replacements used: Kelly Brown for Taylor (39 mins), Fergus Thomson for Ford (40-44, blood sub), Craig Smith for Murray, Scott MacLeod for White (both 57), Nikki Walker for Dewey (61), Chris Cusiter for Blair, Dan Parks for Paterson (both 62), Thomson for Ford (68-77), White for Hamilton (77)

Ireland: Geordan Murphy; Brian Carney, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Gavin Duffy, Tommy Bowe; Paddy Wallace, Isaac Boss; Bryan Young, Jerry Flannery, Simon Best, Paul O'Connell, Malcolm O'Kelly, Neil Best, Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements used: Alan Quinlan for O’Kelly (9-12 mins, 24-33, half-time-59, blood sub), Andrew Trimble for Duffy (27), Keith Gleeson for Best (65), Ronan O’Gara for O’Driscoll (67), John Hayes for Young (71), Eoin Reddan for Boss, Rory Best for Flannery (both 75)

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
Touch Judges: Wayne Barnes (England), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Television Match Official: Rob Debney (England)

Man of the match: Andrew Henderson (Scotland)