Scotland defeated Wales to kickstart their 2025 Women’s Six Nations campaign in front of 4,000 fans at Hive yesterday.
Wales took an early lead when Carys Phillips who crashed over the whitewash and Keira Bevan converted.
The Scots responded with a penalty from Helen Nelson in the 15th minute to reduce the deficit.
Seven minutes later, after Wales conceded three penalties Rachel Malcolm touched down in the corner and Nelson added the extras from an acute angle appeared to give the home side a three point advantage.
However a TMO replay showed the maul had been illegally set up, and despite the Scotland skipper’s protest, her effort was chalked off.
a few minutes before the break, Bonar touched down from close range while Evans was sent to the sin-bin for collapsing the maul.
Rowlands added the conversion which gave the hosts a three point lead heading down the tunnel.
After the restart Thomson appeared to have extended Scotland’s lead but following another review McLachlan was shown to have obstructed the defence in the build-up and the score disallowed
Evans returned to the field and within a minute was show a second yellow card for a challenge on Chloe Rollie.
Moments later Emma Orr capitaised on a Welsh mistake and tan in from the 22, breaking one tackle and touched down near the posts leaving a simple conversion for nelson.
Evie Gallagher was shown a yellow card which was subsequently upgraded to red.
And in the 54th minute the Welsh responded when Abbie Fleming crashed over from the side of the rolling maul. Bevan converted.
Ten minutes later Scotland extended their lead after a wonderful break from Orr and Thomson which eventually culminated in a try for Leah Bartlett’s right under the posts, once again leaving a simple conversion.
Then with six minutes remaning Gwenllian Pyrs touched down for a converted try making the deficit only three points.
Wales pressed forward in the later stages but the Scots held on to secure the victory.
Nelson was rightfully named player of the match.
After the final whistle Scotland head coach Bryan Easson told BBC Scotland: “It played out the way we thought it could. These games over the last five or six years have gone down to underneath seven points and it was exactly the same.
“I think Wales came out and showed that passion and fire, that new coach bounce that we kind of expected.
“We were disappointed however that we left points out there in the first half when we had 63% possession.
“I thought there were times when we played really well and times when we let Wales back into the game a little bit.”
Wales head coach Sean Lynn added: “What I asked the players to deliver this week, to bring energy and passion, I couldn’t fault them out there today.
“We talked at half-time to try and play a more territorial game because our set piece and driving maul had gone really well, and they delivered that.
“I’m super proud of the group.
“There were some defensive system errors which we feel are easy fixes moving onto next week, and with England we’ll definitely need to.”
Wales: Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Maisie Davies, Carys Phillips, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Alaw Pyrs, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Evans.
Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Gwenllian Pyrs, Donna Rose, Gwen Crabb, Bryonie King, Meg Davies, Courtney Keight, Nel Metcalfe.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Anne Young, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Hollie Cunningham, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (capt), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher.
Replacements: Elis Martin, Leah Bartlett, Christine Belisle, Adelle Ferrie, Alex Stewart, Jade Konkel, Caity Mattinson, Evie Wills.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
