Kinghorn, Jordan doubles deny Wales comeback
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A brace of tries from fullback Blair Kinghorn and centre Tom Jordan gave Scotland enough of a lead to survive a fourth-quarter flurry from Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The hosts scored four tries in the first half to take a 28-8 advantage into the break, but they were chased to the final whistle by a Wales team, searching for their first win in 16 attempts, that responded by scoring three tries in the final quarter of a 35-29 victory for Scotland.
Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell was back to his best from the kicking tee as he orchestrated the result, landing all five of his conversion attempts and starring in open play.
Wales, 35-8 behind early in the second half, scored late tries through Ben Thomas, Teddy Williams and Max Llewellyn but their efforts weren’t enough to stop the visitors from suffering a national record-extending 16th straight Test defeat.
Scotland’s second win in four games this championship maintained their hopes of a first top-two finish in the Six Nations era ahead of their tournament finale away to leaders France next week.
This was another gutsy defeat for Wales after they gave champions Ireland a scare before going down 27-18 to champions Ireland in interim coach Matt Sherratt’s first game in charge.
Cardiff coach Sherratt’s spell as Wales’ caretaker boss is set to end a week on Saturday when Wales finish their Six Nations at home to his native England.
It took Scotland just five minutes to score the game’s first try, Kinghorn crowning an excellent 14-phase move by going in following returning wing Darcy Graham’s injection of pace and well-timed pass.
Russell then landed a tough conversion from the left touchline — a score greeted by huge cheers from a home crowd delighted to see their hero back on target.
And just six minutes later more fine back play led to another Scotland try.
Powerhouse wing Duhan van der Merwe fended off Ellis Mee to create a two-on-one overlap out wide, with Huw Jones’s inside pass paving the way for fellow centre Jordan to score his first Test try. Russell again added the extras and Scotland led 14-3.
Wales captain Jac Morgan, however, was winning ruck turnovers and the visitors got back into the game when fly-half Gareth Anscombe’s precise chip through the defence allowed full-back Blair Murray to score a 24th-minute try.
Anscombe’s conversion attempt bounced off the post and moments later Scotland had their third try of an open first half when Graham crossed after Russell sold Anscombe a dummy before his clever delayed pass sent the wing under the posts.
Russell’s conversion meant Scotland, who have never finished higher than third in the Six Nations after winning the last Five Nations in 1999, were now 21-8 ahead.
Wales prop WillGriff John was then yellow-carded for cynically sticking out a leg to stop Scotland scrum-half Ben White from playing the ball. Scotland made their man advantage count with a fourth try that owed much to a litany of Wales errors.
Ben Thomas was wayward with a hugely ambitious kick-pass inside his own 22 that Murray just kept in play only for centre Thomas to then knock-on before Jordan hacked the loose ball downfield before regathering.
Eight minutes into the second half, Toulouse star Kinghorn had a double of his own, with Jones’ pass out the back to Russell allowing the Bath playmaker to release the fullback into a gaping hole in the Welsh defence.
As Townsend turned to his bench, centre Thomas and replacement Teddy Williams crossed for tries to reduce Scotland’s lead to 13 points.
With Scotland leading 35-22 and three minutes left of normal time, Wales back-row Taulupe Faletau had a try disallowed after Murray was ruled to have illegally jumped out of the tackle in the build-up.
And with more than the regulation 80 minutes on the clock, Wales had the last word when Llewellyn went over for a converted try.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
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