Late drama as Scots hold on to deny Wales

SIX NATIONS 2024

■By SAM JACKSON

Wales…………….. 18pts

Tries: Tuipulotu 58, Callender 78

Conversions: Bevan 59

Penalties: Bevan 5, 40

Scotland ……….. 20pts

Tries: Grant 6, Lloyd 48

Conversions: Nelson, 7, 49

Penalties: Nelson 15, 73

SCOTLAND survived a late fightback to secure their first win in Wales for 20 years. Lleucu George had the chance to level the scores in the final minute after Alex Callender had scored but the fly-half was unable to convert.

Tries from Coreen Grant and Rhona Lloyd proved the difference for Scotland.

Wales were the first on the scoreboard as Keira Bevan kicked a penalty six minutes in but Scotland responded a minute later with Grant’s scintillating try.

From a lineout just inside the Welsh half, quick ball through the phases saw Bryan Easson’s side march up field and the wing sped past three defenders to score wide on the left.

Helen Nelson converted and added a panalty after Wales were penalised at the breakdown close to their own line.

Grant went on another run from deep inside her own half but was stopped short by Jasmine Joyce.

Wales slowly worked their way back into the match and after Scotland scrum-half Caity Mattinson was caught trying to run the ball out from the back of a ruck a Welsh rolling maul was held up on the line.

Bevan slotted another penalty to reduce the deficit to four at the break but Scotland had their second try 10 minutes later through Lloyd. Evie Gallagher stole the ball at the breakdown before Emma Orr scythed through the defence and released Lloyd to score in the corner. Nelson added the extras.

A 50:22 from Lisa Thomson put Scotland on the attack again but the Welsh defence stood strong.

Prop Sisilia Tuipulotu powered her way over from close range after a sustained period of pressure on the Scottish line as Wales cranked up the pressure.

Bevan added the extras to again make it a fourpoint game on the hour.

Gallagher looked to have burrowed over for Scotland but was denied by fierce Welsh defence.

With no way through coming with the ball in hand, Nelson added another three points from the tee after a Welsh infringement at the scrum to stretch the lead out to seven with six minutes left on the clock.

But Wales wouldn’t go down without a fight and pushed hard to try and level the match. A George cross-field saw Nel Metcalfe go close before Scotland’s Alex Stewart saw yellow as they desperately clung onto their lead.

Callender finally found a way over the line with two minutes remaining but George was unable to score the crucial conversion.