Scotland edge past Wales in a drama-filled match which had it all

Scotland edged past Wales 24-21 at a very wet Hive Stadium in Edinburgh to get their Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign off to a winning start after a drama filled 80 minutes.

In a game that had pretty much everything – tries, disallowed tries, TMO checks aplenty and yellow and red cards – the hosts did just about enough to get over the line. Scotland take four match points away, with Wales taking a losing bonus point from new head coach Sean Lynn’s first game in charge.

Although not always pretty, you feel this was an important win in the evolution of this Scotland team as they look to become more abrasive and hard to beat going forward, while for Wales there were definitely positives on both sides of the ball, but they are just at the start of a new journey.

Wales got off to an energetic start, just as they had said during the week that they were planning to do.

Early on, Wales won a scrum penalty and then, from the resultant scrum and a couple of phases, hooker Carys Phillips went over for a try from short range. Kiera Bevan converted and it was 7-0 to the visitors after five minutes.

Hollie Cunningham, the second-row making her Scotland debut, started getting her team on the front foot and, in the 10th minute, a neat chip by stand-off Helen Nelson set winger Francesca McGhie away.

She was hauled down, but the Scots looked odds on to score until the ball was ripped from skipper Rachel Malcolm’s grasp just short of the try line.

Scotland’s attack took confidence from that though and, in the 17th minute, Nelson kicked a penalty. It made her Scotland women’s second highest points scorer of all time with 188 points. Former player Paula Chalmers still leads the way with a mighty 463 points.

Wales were conceding a few penalties now and from a lineout move back-row Malcolm finished off a driving maul for a Scotland try. Nelson converted from out wide and they thought it was 10-7.

However, referee Kat Roche and TMO Oli Kellett looked at the incident and decided there was an obstruction in the lineout move and ruled out the score.

On the half hour mark, winger McGhie showed how dangerous she can be to get play into the Wales half with a good run, but Wales full-back Jasmine Joyce won an excellent turnover and the visiting defence was really holding up well.

They were also managing to get a number of turnovers and their new coaching team will have been pleased with some of their defensive work, but ill-discipline was starting to hurt them. The referee and TMO then looked at a high tackle by Wales second-row Alaw Pyrs, but it was deemed just a penalty.

From that penalty near the halfway line, Scotland worked their way into a good position and, in the 37th minute, second-row Sarah Bonar did get their first try from short range. Nelson converted for 10-7 and Wales number eight Georgia Evans was yellow carded for trying to pull down the maul in the build-up.

It was a three-point Scotland lead at half-time and certainly ‘game on’ with both teams having positive patches in a fascinating first 40 minutes.

Wales brought on experienced tighthead prop Donna Rose at the break, but it was Scotland with the player advantage who started strongly.

Centre Lisa Thomson thought she had scored a try after 42 minutes, but it was ruled out for obstruction in the build-up by back-row Rachel McLachlan.

Two minutes later they did score their second of the day, Nelson making a good defensive tackle and Thomson hacking it on to set it up.

Thomson and McGhie then pressured retreating defender Lisa Neumann, the Welsh winger, and centre Emma Orr took advantage to scoop up the loose ball and run in for a try. Nelson converted for 17-7 as Evans returned to the fray.

She was not back for long though as a high tackle on Chloe Rollie saw her given a second yellow card and, as a result, a red.

It was the 14-woman team who nearly scored next though, the ever-lively Bevan being held up over the try line by Malcolm.

After another TMO review, Scotland number eight Evie Gallagher was yellow carded for a dangerous clear out at a ruck, also flagged up for a bunker review.

With 14 versus 14,  Wales took immediate advantage of regaining parity when second-row Abbie Fleming scored a try from close range. Bevan converted and it was 17-14.

On the hour mark Gallagher’s yellow was upgraded to a 20-minute red card via the bunker. There were nerves all around the Hive now, but replacement loosehead prop Leah Bartlett’s try in the 65th minute eased those for the home support, Nelson converting to take the gap to ten at 24-14.

However Wales and Scotland matches have always been close affairs and this match was no different. The visitors scored their third try via replacement Gwenllian Pyrs, which Bevan converted and it was 24-21.

That set up a thrilling finale which, all credit to them, Scotland managed well to see the game out with Nelson being named player of the match.

Others who impressed were Cunningham on debut and hooker Lana Skeldon and for Wales, Bevan was superb and back-row Bethan Lewis industrious.

Scotland head to La Rochelle and the Stade Marcel-Deflandre next Saturday to take on France in round two with Wales hosting England later that same day in Cardiff in the Principality Stadium.