In the opening few minutes of the game the Scottish defence worked hard to halt the Wales attack, forcing multiple errors upon them. It took until a third lineout for Wales to recycle the ball through the phases before blindside flanker Alisha Butcher crossed the whitewash with Elinor Snowsill adding the conversion.

With just over 10 minutes gone, Scotland were penalised for a dangerous tackle which allowed Elinor Snowsill to earn three more points for Wales.

Wales were penalised for not releasing in the 15^th minute and Scotland opted for a chance to get some points on the board but unfortunately Helen Nelson’s kick was just wide of the posts.

Scotland had been camped near the welsh try line for a period but when it came to nothing referee Munarini brought the penalty advantage back to the five-metre line where Lisa Thomson kicked for touch. From there it was a simple catch and maul from the lineout with Jade Konkel-Roberts and Lana Skeldon pealing away for Skeldon to secure it down over the try line. Unfortunately, Nelson’s conversion attempt unsuccessful.

From a scrum, Wales managed to keep the ball alive through off-loading in the tackle which allowed Kayleigh Powell to run in a second try for them, the conversion by Snowsill was missed.

Five minutes later Scotland had another opportunity to get some points on the board as Wales were penalised for off their feet however Nelson’s kick was unsuccessful.

Half time: Wales 15 Scotland 5

Scotland showed great defence in the first ten minutes of the second half with two try-saving tackles. The first saw Welsh winger Jasmin Joyce take off on a searing run past the halfway only to be brought down excellently by scrum-half Caity Mattison on the 22-metre line. The second came when Wales were camped on the Scottish try line but was eventually held up over the try line by Sarah Bonar and Rachel Malcom.

With near on an hour gone Scotland were camped in the Welsh 22 and crossed the try line twice but to no avail. The first time came from a Scotland scrum, the ball was carried and recycled before Konkel-Roberts forced her way over but was held up by the Welsh defence. The second time the Scottish line out got moving from five metres out although unfortunately it was knocked on in the process of crossing the whitewash.

Following a 10minute delay to Scotland replacement back row Eilidh Sinclair, for what looked like an injury to her arm, Scotland came back to the game with gusto. In the first scrum Wales were penalised yet again with prop Cara Hope shown a yellow card on the 64^th minute.

Scotland capitalised on this straight away, with another Scotland scrum. Konkel-Roberts picked up and headed toward the try-line only to find a red brick wall of defence, she kept the ball alive, and worked its way out to centre Hannah Smith who managed to keep the ball alive in the tackle and finally found winger Megan Gaffney who dotted down in the corner. Nelson’s touchline conversion was unsuccessful.

From the re-start Wales’ Boutcher made a huge run up-field with Joyce on her outside, however Lisa Thompson brought her down only a couple of metres from the try line in an expert try-saving tackle.

As the game headed into the last 10 minutes of the game Scotland worked hard to get out of the danger zone, phase after phase and time after time.

Five minutes left and still only five-point game…

Scotland looked to mount an attack with four minutes to go but as Konkel-Roberts looked to pass out to Chole Rollie or Gaffney the ball was deliberately knocked on by Joyce who saw a yellow card come her way and Wales were down to 14-players once again.

With two minutes left on the clock Scotland were calm and composed in attack, building their way through the phases from one side of the pitch to the other. As they pulled back again an overlap emerged, with some nice handling from front row forwards Christine Belisle and Leah Barlett they found Gaffeny on the wing who had to work hard but eventually got down over the line. On the touchline Nelson’s conversion attempt was better but still narrow of the posts.

With what must have only been one or two seconds left on the clock there was time for the re-start, Wales got the ball back and worked their way through more than 22 phases of play before Scotland were penalised for offside. Replacement Keira Bevan stepped up and slotted it between the sticks to win it for Wales.

Full time: Wales 18 Scotland 15

Scotland: 15. Chloe Rollie (Exeter Chiefs); 14. Rhona Lloyd (Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais), 13. Hannah Smith (Watsonians), 12. Lisa Thomson (Sale Sharks), 11. Megan Gaffney (Loughborough Lighning); 10. Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning) VICE-CAPTAIN, 9. Caity Mattinson (Worcester Warriors); 1. Molly Wright (Sale Sharks), 2. Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors), 3. Christine Belisle, 4. Emma Wassell (both Loughborough Lightning), 5. Sarah Bonar (Harlequins) 6. Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning) CAPTAIN, 7. Louise McMillan (Saracens), 8. Jade Konkel-Roberts (Harlequins).

Subs: 16. Jodie Rettie (Saracens) for Sinclair (63 mins), 17. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning) for Wright (63 mins), 18. Elliann Clarke (Edinburgh University), 19. Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester Warriors), 20. Eilidh Sinclair for McMillian (46 mins), 21. Mairi McDonald (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 22. Meryl Smith (Edinburgh University) and 23. Shona Campbell (Edinburgh University).

Wales: Kayleigh Powell; Jasmine Joyce, Megan Webb, Hannah Jones CAPTAIN, Lisa Neumann; Elinor Snowsill, Ffion Lewis; Cara Hope, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butcher, Alex Callender, Sioned Harries.

Subs: Kelsey Jones on for Phillips (63 mins), Caryl Thomas (64 mins), Cerys Hale on for Rose (55 mins), Siwan Lillicrap on for Evans (55 mins), Bethan Lewis (68 mins), Keira Bevan on for Lewis (53 mins), Robyn Wilkins on for Hope (75 mins), Lowri Norkett.

Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy). Assistant referees: Julianne Zussman (Canada) and Tyler Miller (Australia). TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada).

Attendance: 3552

Player of the Match: Elinor Snowsill (Wales)