Scotland edge Wales in dramatic fashion

03/22/2025 03:12 PM

MATCH REPORT: Scotland made it a rare consecutive Championship victory against Wales with a 24-21 win in Edinburgh.

Wales got off to a sparkling start, looking dangerous from the off with their set-piece dominance and willingness to play through the backs. Inside five minutes, former captain Carys Phillips went over from short range to score the opener.

Scrumhalf Keira Bevan converted the hooker's try.

Scotland met fire with fire, making some searing breaks through likes of winger Francesca McGhie, forcing the visitors to scramble on several occasions. Their most dangerous foray into the Welsh 22 in the first quarter ended with a turnover by Welsh tighthead Jenni Scoble, which would have impressed new head coach Sean Lynn no end.

Flyhalf Helen Nelson did manage a penalty in that period to get Scotland on the scoreboard after Wales infringed at the breakdown. A high tackle from Wales then saw Nelson kick to the corner for an attacking lineout. Wales collapsed the subsequent maul, gifting Scotland another maul opportunity, from which they then scored through captain Rachel Malcolm.

Nelson's conversion from out wide was an impressive one, and gave her team a 10-7 lead.

But, to the audible dismay of the Edinburgh crowd, an important development emerged when the TMO review decided that an obstruction had occurred in the act of Scotland scoring. Try overturned and back to 3-7, and a sigh of relief for Wales.

Bryan Easson's side went again but came up against a resolute Welsh defence, for whom number eight Georgia Evans came to the fore in crucial moments. Fullback Jasmine Joyce, famed for her attacking play, proved herself equally adept in defence, winning two penalties in quick succession with her jackalling efforts.

It was the Scots who started the better in the second half, midfielder Emma Orr gathering a loose ball to run in a try, off the back of some fantastic work by McGhie.

Wales' problems were compounded when Georgia Evans was given a second yellow for a high tackle, resulting in a 20-minute period in which the visitors would go down to 14 players before returning to a full complement.

The playing field was evened out after 50 minutes when Scotland No.8 Evie Gallagher was sent to the sin bin – eventually upgraded to a red card – for a dangerous clearout. Wales wasted little time in scoring, a muscular forward effort allowing Abbie Fleming to touch down. Bevan converted well in the pouring rain, 17-14.

Scotland's attack in the final quarter began to sap the energy from Welsh legs, and a fine switch between midfielders Lisa Thomson and Emma Orr took them right up to the Welsh line, where Lea Bartlett scored from a pick-and-drive. Nelson converted, 24-14.

Patient build-up from Wales from the 70th minute paid dividends as second row Alaw Pyrs scored and Bevan converted to put them within three points of the hosts – and, crucially perhaps, gave them a losing bonus point: 24-21.

What ultimately denied Wales any chance of a comeback was a mounting penalty count in the closing minutes. Scotland managed the game wisely, and in the correct parts of the pitch, to see out a deserved victory.

The victory made it back-to-back Championship wins for Scotland against Wales for the first time in 20 years, and Easson's side can rightly travel to La Rochelle next weekend full of confidence.

The scorers:

For Scotland:
Tries: Bonar, Orr, Bartlett
Cons: Nelson 3
Pen: Nelson

For Wales:
Tries: Phillips, Fleming, Pyrs
Cons: Bevan 3

Teams:

Scotland:15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca Mcghie, 10 Helen Nelson (captain), 9 Leia Brebner-Holden, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Rachel Mclachlan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Hollie Cunningham, 3 Elliann Clarke, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Anne Young
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Leah Bartlett, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Adelle Ferrie, 20 Alex Stewart, 21 Jade Konkel, 22 Caity Mattison, 23 Evie Wills

Wales: 15 Jasmine Joyce, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Kayleigh Powell, 11 Carys Cox, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Georgia Evans, 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Kate Williams, 5 Alaw Pyrs, 4 Abbie Fleming, 3 Jenni Scoble, 2 Carys Phillips, 1 Maisie Davies
Replacements: 16 Kelsey Jones, 17 Gwenllian Pyrs, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Gwen Crabb, 20 Bryonie King, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Courtney Keight, 23 Nel Metcalfe

Referee: Kat Roche
Assistant Referees: Jess Ling, Shanda Assmus
TMO: Oli Kellet