Scotland 38 – 8 Wales: Historic Win in Opening Game

A six-try showing – Scotland’s first victory in the competition since 2010 – was built on a foundation of indefatigable defence and devastating finishing as their Pool B campaign played out in spectacular fashion.

Bryan Easson’s side got off to a scarcely believable start when, after Helen Nelson scooped up a loose ball, winger McGhie was fed by the stand-off on the left touchline. With plenty still to do, she scuttled home for the textbook opening they had so craved (5-0, 1 min).

A series of scrum resets soon tempered the emotion of the occasion and it was Wales who fell foul of Maggie Cogger-Orr first, the referee penalising for an early contact as Scotland enjoyed almost the entirety of possession in the opening 10 minutes at Salford Community Stadium.

Wales’ first wander into Scottish territory was halted when Lisa Thomson put in a thumping tackle on namesake Neumann, with Lana Skeldon’s jackal winning a well-timed penalty to relieve pressure.

The scores were soon tied, however, when Welsh co-captain Alex Callendar finished off a line-out drive after a series of infringements around the breakdown afforded them the opportunity to kick to touch and rumble over (5-5, 13 mins).

This was always anticipated to be a nip-and-tuck tie and so it proved when McGhie went over for her second soon after. Scotland stretched the Welsh defence over a series of phases, struggling to cope with the fizzing service of scrum-half Leia Brebner-Holden and eventually running out of defensive bodies in the left-hand corner (10-5, 17 mins).

The arrears were reduced five minutes later when Keira Bevan slotted the first place kick of the afternoon after Elliann Clarke was adjudged to have illegally pilfered the ball at a ruck just around her 22m line (10-8, 23 mins).

And a wonderful scramble defence then stopped Wales potentially scoring a majestic try. Jasmine Joyce-Butchers slalomed through the Scottish defence and when well set to continue their territorial nudge, the retreating Emma Orr spoiling things for Gwen Crabb for a jackal penalty.

If such defensive efforts are needed to halt scoreboard momentum, then attack needs to be on point to take advantage and Scotland had a third try just after the half-hour mark.

Brebner-Holden, who set the tempo from the off with her rapid service, spotted a gap in the Wales defensive line after a to snipe over for first international try, as Nelson landed a tidy conversion to stretch the lead to nine (17-8, 30 mins).

Full-back Nel Metcalfe then almost pierced clean through Scotland’s line with a lovely chip-and-chase, only for McGhie, who appeared to be omnipresent, to put in another potentially points-saving tackle.

The penalty that arrived from that breakdown was wasted by the Welsh, whose crossing at their own line-out cut short what looked like a gilt-edged attacking chance.

And the half was wrapped up with yet another sapping Scottish defensive set, staving off eight phases to bump centre Courtney Keight into touch and earn an interval lead that was fully deserved.

Half-time: Scotland 17-8 Wales

Wales needed some early inspiration in the second half but when Lleucu George tried to clear her lines from a seemingly innocuous position, McGhie got the charge-down that led to a knock on and immediate field position with a scrum well inside Welsh territory.

The ball then fed its way through the Scottish back division until Rhona Lloyd timed her pass to McGhie who, with some work yet to do, finished with aplomb for her third try in little over 40 minutes of action. Nelson coolly converted despite the pressures of the shot clock (24-8, 42 mins).

Refusing to rest on their laurels, Scotland sought another after excellent breaks from Nelson and then Elliann Clarke but this time it was Wales with the swarm defence to keep their opponents at bay.

However, play was brought back by TMO Ian Tempest for a high shot on the aforementioned Clarke in that phase and Wales lock Crabb was duly given a yellow card for a tackle deemed too high.

Wales fluffed their lines when well set as a 14-player team, but again it owed much to Scotland’s tireless defence as Emma Orr launched one to clear the threat with the hour mark approaching.

Shortly after, the game was well and truly put out of Welsh reach. Having won a dominant scrum penalty 15m from the line, a well-worked tap saw Elis Martin lay the platform for Evie Gallagher to race on to Caity Mattinson’s flat ball and finish from close range, Nelson converting once more (31-8, 64 mins).

Wales fought valiantly to keep their opponents from further adding to their tally but there was still time for Emma Orr to hit Mattinson’s bullet, flat pass to help herself to Scotland’s sixth try, Nelson adding another two from the tee (38-8, 77 mins).

And perhaps summing up the entire day’s work, yet more unremitting defence refused to allow Wales another try, even with 80 minutes on the clock and their opponents metres from the Scottish line.

Full-time Scotland 38-8 Wales

Scotland: Chloe Rollie (Toulon Provence Méditerranée), Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks), Emma Orr (Bristol Bears), Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie (both Trailfinders Women); Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden (both Loughborough Lightning); Leah Bartlett (Sale Sharks), Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke (both Bristol Bears), Emma Wassell (Trailfinders Women), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Rachel Malcolm (captain) (Trailfinders Women), Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier), Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears).

Replacements: Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning) (for Skeldon, 46 mins), Molly Wright (Sale Sharks) (for Bartlett, 65 mins), Lisa Cockburn (Gloucester Hartpury) (for Clarke, HIA, 38 mins), Jade Konkel (Harlequins) (for Bonar, 59 mins), Eva Donaldson (Sale Sharks) (for Wassell, blood rep, 2 mins, then 70), Alex Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars) (for McLachlan, 59 mins), Caity Mattinson (Trailfinders Women) (for Brebner-Holden, 52 mins), Beth Blacklock (Saracens) (for Thomson, 67 mins).

Wales: Nel Metcalfe; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Dallavalle, Courtney Keight, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Alaw Pyrs, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams (co-capt), Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (co-capt).

Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox.

Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Holly Wood (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Rachel Horton (RA)

Mastercard Player of the Match: Francsca McGhie (Scotland)
Attendance: 10,052