Women’s Six Nations
Scotland (10) 24
Tries: Bonar, Orr, Bartlett Cons: Nelson 3 Pen: Nelson
Wales (7) 21
Tries: Phillips, Fleming, Pyrs Cons: Bevan 3
Scotland edged another nail-biting encounter against Wales to kickstart their 2025 Women’s Six Nations campaign.
Carys Phillips had given Wales an early lead before Scotland took control, but they only had a Sarah Bonar try to show for their first-half efforts with television match official (TMO) Ian Tempest having an exceptionally busy afternoon.
Emma Orr and Leah Bartlett scored as the hosts looked to break away in soggy conditions, but Abbie Fleming kept the Welsh in touch.
A late effort from Gwenllian Pyrs set up a grandstand finish, but the Scots held on for a third successive win over their fierce Celtic rivals.
To add to the drama both number eights were sent to the sin bin, Georgia Evans for two yellow cards, while Evie Gallagher’s offence was upgraded to a red card.
Wales started the Sean Lynn era brightly, showing early glimpses of what had been promised with the backline seeing plenty of ball.
Lynn had also promised a solid set-piece and Wales destroyed Scotland in the opening scrum to win a penalty five metres out.
Wales launched their attack from lineout ball and Kate Williams made good ground before the ball was recycled out to Phillips who crashed over on her 80th cap.
Scotland went on to dominate possession and territory for the remainder of the half, with Fran McGhie showing her threat with an meandering run after collecting a delicate dink from Helen Nelson, but the defence scrambled and managed to strip the ball.
Scotland got on the board with a penalty from player of the match Helen Nelson and looked to have taken the lead shorty after from a five metre lineout.
Rachel Malcolm took clean ball before being driven over the line, but there was a late intervention from the TMO as Wales were getting ready for the restart.
The replays showed the maul which drove the Scotland skipper had been illegally set up, and despite Malcolm’s protest, her effort was chalked off.
The hosts continued to threaten, none more so than Lisa Thomson who looked devastating in attack, but Wales came up with crucial turnovers, with the likes of Fleming and Jasmine Joyce-Butchers heroic in defence.
The red wall finally crumbled a few minutes before the break, Scotland stalwart Bonar driving low to the line, 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.
Scotland resumed as they had finished the half, Gallagher with the initial line break before the ball was trucked up through the forwards and eventually out to Thomson for the try.
But more drama ensured as Rachel McLachlan was shown to have obstructed the defence in the build-up much to the frustration of the 4,000 home crowd.
But Wales remained their own worst enemy, Kayleigh Powell, playing in a new position at centre, was caught in possession which allowed Thomson to hoof the ball downfield. Wales looked to have scrambled but spilled possession under the pressure of the chase which allowed Orr to pick up the ball and sprint clear to the line.
Wales then went on a rare attack with Chloe Rollie driven back over her own try line, but the tackle by Evans was high and she was shown a second yellow having only just returned to the field.
Galvanised by the dismissal, Wales kept plugging away and this time it was Scotland who were under the TMO microscope with Gallagher shown a card for a dangerous cleanout which would later be upgraded after a bunker review.
Wales attacked from the lineout and there was no stopping the maul with Fleming a deserved try-scorer having been at the heart of everything.
Bevan reduced the deficit to just three points with a successful conversion to send the travelling fans wild as the rain poured down.
But as conditions worsened, Scotland re-took control of the game and it was a brilliant passage of play which led to a try for replacement hooker Bartlett.
Orr put Wales on the backfoot with another superb line-break, showing no signs of rust after a long injury lay-off, while Thomson was hauled down by Joyce-Butchers, but Scotland showed good patience which allowed the replacement hooker to go over to give Scotland some breathing space once more.
But Wales were not done, Powell had been just a roll away from crossing for a try, but Wales came again off the lineout maul and it was the returning Pyrs who announced her arrival with a crucial try.
Scotland managed the game well in the final few minutes as Wales tried desperately to win back possession, but the the ball was sent high into the crowd to start the celebrations.
Wales do however start the Sean Lynn era with a deserved losing bonus-point.
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.
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