Match Report: Scotland 40-14 Wales
6 Sep 2024After a slow start, Scotland Women kicked into top gear with a flurry of tries to comprehensively beat a stoic Welsh side at Hive Stadium.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Scotland's Francesca McGhie scores a try during an Autumn Test match between Scotland and Wales at the Hive Stadium, on September 06, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) Two tries from both Francesca McGhie and player of the match Chloe Rollie, plus one each from Evie Gallagher and Meryl Smith sealed the match in style.
Scotland kicked off towards the Murrayfield stand and, after some early settling play from Wales, a box kick was caught cleanly by Chloe Rollie who returned for Scotland with interest.
A succession of early penalties saw Scotland bundle over the try line, but it was deemed to be held up and a goal line drop out to Wales.
But Scotland kept coming, with phases built as they neared the line. As the ball was flung wide, however, the ball was intercepted by Welsh captain Keira Bevan. Desperate tracking defence from Rollie stopped a certain try for the visitors.
Scotland rallied and pushed forward again, this time courtesy of a line break from Francesca McGhie, with a chipped ball caught by Rollie, who was ever-present in the opening half.
The Welsh knocked on inside their 22 in front of the posts, giving Scotland another golden opportunity to bring the scoreboard into life. The ball was picked from the back of the scrum by Evie Gallagher, and after coming close from two pick and goes, it was Gallagher who received the ball from the ruck and crashed over the Welsh line. But the conversion was missed by Nelson. [10 mins, 5-0]
A penalty for not rolling away was smartly tapped by Welsh skipper Bevan, who made it all the way to the 5m line before a desperate tackle kept her out. But quick ball to the right-hand side saw outside centre Meg Webb cross over easily near the corner flag. Bevan converted. [17 mins, 5-7]
A brilliant break from the back of a scrum saw Gallagher make it into the Welsh 22 again, before offloading and the ball was spun wide to Emma Orr, who just about made it to the try line before being bundled into touch.
Wales gave away a series of penalties in their 22 and eventually Scotland looked to have scored a maul try through Lana Skeldon. But Wales found further reprieve when Malcolm was deemed to have joined the maul from an offside position and obstructed.
Half Time: Scotland 5 – 7 Wales
Loose ball from Wales after the restart saw the ball hacked ahead by Nelson, and after a second kick ahead from McGhie, the winger regathered and crossed over to restart the scoring for the home side. Nelson converted from a tight angle. [42 mins, 12-7]
Seven minutes into the second half, scrum half Mairi McDonald made way for number 22, Leia Brebner-Holden, who by stepping onto the field became cap number 239 for Scotland.
A brilliant line ran by Meryl Smith broke the Welsh line and saw Scotland enter the 22. The ball went wide to Coreen Grant, who thundered towards the 5m line before being brought down. Phases built until the ball was spun out to McGhie, who just couldn’t hold on and lost the ball.
Anne Young and Elliann Clarke came on for Christine Belisle and Leah Bartlett at the 52-minute mark, making changes to Scotland’s front row.
Scotland barrelled towards the Welsh line, spinning the ball through the hands before Orr made the line break, and handed the ball off to Rollie, who had a hand in everything. She crossed over in the corner and Nelson converted again. [55 mins, 19-7]
And the pressure continued to mount from Scotland. Another break from Rollie saw her reach the 22 before being brought down. A clever kick from Smith bounced into touch just 5m out from the Welsh line.
Louise McMillan entered the fray for Fi McIntosh in the second row in the 56th minute.
And from a set play, Scotland spun the ball left through the hands, and Nelson fired the final pass to Smith, who crossed over to extend Scotland’s lead. Nelson converted. [60 mins, 26-7]
Jade Konkel came on for captain Rachel Malcolm in the 61st minute.
A line break from Nelson set up a clever play from Scotland, where Smith put in a stabbed cross-field kick for Rollie to collect and dart inside, beat two defenders and score under the posts. Nelson converted. [66 mins, 33-7]
Sarah Bonar departed for a HIA, and Eva Donaldson came on to replace her in the 67th minute.
Lucia Scott also entered the field for fullback Chloe Rollie. Scott, by stepping on, also made her Scotland debut, and claimed cap number 240.
Elis Martin also came on for Lana Skeldon – all of this in the 68th minute.
A penalty for Scotland players offside from a clearing kick saw Wales punt to the corner, but from the resulting lineout maul, the ball was unplayable and the scrum given to the home side, 5m out from their own try line.
Down the other end of the field, Wales gave away a penalty after the ball was booted into their 22 and a tackle made, forcing them to hold onto the ball and give away a penalty with five minutes remaining.
The resulting lineout maul came to nothing, but the ball was plucked up quickly by replacement scrum half Brebner-Holden and the ball went through the hands to left winger McGhie for another simple try. Nelson converted again. [76 mins, 40-7]
A scrappy back and forth ensued, but it was Wales who came up the better, as Nel Metcalfe was the beneficiary. She slid over in the corner to close the gap. Bevan again converted. [79 mins, 40-14]
A final burst from Scotland down the left flank saw the crowd burst into life once more, but it came to nothing.
Full Time: Scotland 40 – 14 Wales
Scotland Women: 15. Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders); 14. Coreen Grant (Saracens); 13. Emma Orr (Bristol Bears); 12. Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears); 11. Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers); 10. Helen Nelson (VC) (Loughborough Lightning); 9. Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs). 1. Leah Bartlett, (Leicester Tigers); 2. Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears); 3. Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning); 4. Fi McIntosh (Saracens); 5. Sarah Bonar (Harlequins); 6. Rachel Malcolm (captain) (Loughborough Lightning); 7. Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars); 8. Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears).
Replacements: 16. Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning); 17. Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning); 18. Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears); 19. Louise McMillan (Saracens); 20. Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers); 21. Jade Konkel (Harlequins); 22. Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)*; 23. Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)*.
Wales Women: 15. Jenny Hesketh, 14. Catherine Richards, 13. Meg Webb, 12. Kerin Lake, 11. Jasmine Joyce, 10. Robyn Wilkins, 9. Keira Bevan (captain). 1. Gwenllian Pyrs, 2. Molly Reardon, 3. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 4. Natalia John, 5. Gwen Crabb, 6. Bethan Lewis, 7. Kate Williams 8. Gwennan Hopkins.
Replacements: 16. Rosie Carr*, 17. Maisie Davies*, 18. Donna Rose, 19. Alaw Pyrs*, 20. Alisha Butchers, 21. Sian Jones, 22. Lleucu George, 23. Nel Metcalfe.
Match officials: Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau, AR 1: Melissa Lebouef, AR 2: Maria Heitor, TMO: Dan Jones.
Attendance: 1795
Player of the Match: Chloe Rollie (Scotland)
