Thank you all very much for joining us tonight at Hive Stadium, during what started out as a lovely spring night and ended up a cold, rainy evening!

No matter the weather, Scotland have come out trumps over storied rivals Wales during the first weekend of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Travel safe, and join us again when Scotland take on France on Saturday 29 March – that’s a 1pm kick off away in France.

We look forward to your company then.

Helen Nelson is rightfully named player of the match. What an impact the fly half had tonight – she didn’t put a foot wrong, quite literally.

Scotland can walk away with their heads held high, as they’ve claimed their maiden win of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, 24 – 21 over Wales at the Hive in Edinburgh.

The Scotland players look more relieved than perhaps they would like, but no matter – they have won the match amidst some truly atrocious second half weather.

Standouts tonight for Scotland were Nelson, Gallagher, Captain Fantastic Malcolm, and Rollie at full back.

The lineout is good again, and the drive comes.

Scotland wait out the clock brilliantly. Mattinson looks towards the ref, and gets the nod. She grabs it from the back and hoofs it into the stands, bringing the game to a close! Scotland win the match, by the skin of their teeth.

The resulting Welsh lineout isn’t straight though!

Now Scotland have the lineout with about 90 seconds remaining, and on their 40 metre line.

It’s straight, and it’s brought down into the pack. Now they have a penalty advantage!

It comes out from the ruck, but the slippery ball is dropped, with just seconds remaining – we will come back for the penalty, which Nelson gratefully thumps into the stands.

Scotland’s lineout near halfway sees the team in blue carry hard into Welsh territory and hang on to a very wet ball.

But it’s a penalty – this time for coming in from an offside position.

Wales will have possession as the clock strikes 78 minutes.

Again Wales crash towards the line, and they’re over on the third time of asking. Gwenllian Pyrs gets the plaudits.

Bevan pops the conversion over, too. So it’s a three-point ball game with five minutes remaining. (Scotland 24 – 21 Wales)

Adelle Ferrie is now coming on for her international debut – she’ll replace fellow debutant Hollie Cunningham.

Thomson knocks on inside the 22, lending Wales a golden chance to cash in, with about eight minutes remaining.

They have penalty advantage too and they’re right on the line, but it goes loose, so we’ll come back for the penalty.

Alex Stewart is on after the 20 minute red card timer has elapsed.

A Wales lineout is loose and won by Scotland on halfway.

Rollie picks up the ball and darts left, finding support lines from McGhie, who breaks into the 22.

Inside they go, but it’s just lost forward in the resulting build up.

Wales have the feed to the scrum about 15 metres out from their line. Twelve minutes remain.

A brilliant break from Orr and Thomson sees the Scots once again reach the 22.

Phase after phase the pressure ramps up. And, with 15 minutes left on the clock, the try is awarded for Leah Bartlett’s dive at the line, right under the posts!

Orr’s initial break, and Thomson’s secondary carry got the Scots right to the line – it was only a matter of time before a phase crossed over.

Nelson converts and Scotland’s 10-point lead is restored. (Scotland 24 – 14 Wales)

Down the left Scotland rush, through Rollie and McGhie – a dangerous combination tonight.

Back into the centre it’s flung, and the pass just can’t stick in this weather – it bounces forward and Wales stay alive in this match.

Evie Gallagher’s yellow card has been upgraded to a red card by the bunker.

The rain is crashing down now around the players, with 25 minutes left on the clock.

Scotland nail another lineout and drive past the Wales 40m line. Under penalty advantage, Mattinson pings a pass out and a cross kick is threaded over to the left wing. Claimed by the Welsh fullback, we go back for the penalty.

To the corner the Scots go, and, a player down, they rumble towards the red line.

For all their metres gained though, it’s knocked forward in the melee and Wales get a reprieve.

The Welsh lineout is good and they rumble towards the line.

It’s credited to lock Abbie Fleming, who crashed over from the side of the rolling maul.

Bevan now has a tricky conversion attempt to bring Wales back within three points.

It’s over, and they are indeed back to three points behind. (Scotland 17 – 14 Wales)

We’re checking back in with the TMO for the fifth time tonight now.

It’s deemed to be a dangerous clean out by Evie Gallagher and reaches the yellow card threshold.

Scotland are caught offside from a clearing kick and Wales have a chance to go to the corner.

It’s a huge rumble from the visitors and they have another penalty advantage. It’s given and it’s taken quickly by Bevan, who darts towards the line, but is held up.

The clearance is a good one, and Wales begin to inch their way up towards the Scottish 22.

A few big hits go in, but Scotland are penalised for not rolling away. Again they go to the corner

Jade Konkel, Elis Martin, Leah Bartlett and Christine Belisle are now coming on for Rachel McLachlan, Lana Skeldon, Anne Young, and Elliann Clarke.

From the penalty, Wales kick for a lineout and go blindside down the left.

It’s dropped cold on the 22, and hacked downfield by Thomson, with McGhie giving chase. It’s collected by the Welsh fullback and she’s clattered by McGhie and Orr.

Again it’s dropped and Orr collects gratefully, on the 22. She’s clean through after breaking one tackle and runs it in near the posts for Scotland’s second try!

Nelson converts and Scotland leads by 10. (Scotland 17 – 7 Wales)

We’re going upstairs for our foruth visit of the evening to the TMO, this time for a high shot on Chloe Rollie.

She was collecting a kick through and Evans clattered her right on the try line.

It is indeed a second yellow card for Evans, so she will not play the remainder of this match.

Evans is back on the field after serving her sentence.

Wales win the aerial ping pong after George sends up a spiral bomb, and McGhie can’t collect, spilling it forward.

Caity Mattinson is coming on for Leia Brebner-Holden now.

Scotland use the lineout to great effect.

Through the hands it goes, with Evie Gallagher making a fantastic break right down the centre of the field. She’s dragged down just 5m out, but the Scots are in with the second attempt!!

It’s Lisa Thomson who crossed over. But the referee wants to check it with the TMO.

She’s pulled it back, due to a Scottish obstruction back on the 40m line. That was pretty blatant, to be fair.

Thomson gets us underway, and Wales clear deep into the stands by their 40m line.

It’s hosing down now in the Hive, as the teams come back out for the start of the second half.

Scotland are attacking the Murrayfield end as they look to see out this match – they’ll begin the half an extra player up, as Evans still has about eight or nine minutes in the sin bin.

Elsewhere today, France defeated Ireland 27 – 15 at the Kingspan Stadium in Ireland.

Ireland almost went level with France at 15 – 17, but France were too good, running out deserved winners in that match – the opening fixture of this year’s championship.

Scotland have struggled to convert their chances after entering the Welsh 22 at least a dozen times in the first half.

If they can begin to be more clinical in the second stanza, this could be wrapped up quite nicely.

Wales have looked dangerous in parts this half, but only when scrum half Bevan gets her hands on the ball. Scotland must be aware of her potential this coming half.

Again they enter the Welsh 22 for a lineout.

They rumble hard, before it’s spun wide for McGhie and Rollie to have a crack. They reach the 5m line now, and the forwards get involved.

Inch by inch they near the line, until a dart from Sarah Bonar crosses over the whitewash!! That was patient, it was clinical, and it puts Scotland in front!

Nelson lines up the conversion from just to the left of the uprights, and pops it over. We have three and a bit minutes remaining in the half. (Scotland 10 – 7 Wales)

Welsh number 8 Georgia Evans has been sent to the sin bin, with about a minute remaining in the half. It was for an illegal drag down.

Wales opt to put boot to ball, ending the first half.

That’s possibly a sensible decision considering they are a player down.

The victim is Lana Skeldon. Ref says it’s a low degree of danger, but they will go back for a Scottish penalty just on the Welsh side of halfway.

A brilliant kick return starting from outside Scotland’s 22 sees Mattinson go on a tear, bursting through the midfield, but she’s isolated just outside the Wales 22 and, again, Scotland are penalised for holding on in the ruck.

Now it’s Wales’ turn to attack through their brilliant scrum half, Bevan – who has been at the centre of everything for Wales today.

She’s brought down in a try saving tackle by Nelson on the Scottish 22.

Now the referee is going to the TMO for a potential high tackle from a Welsh player.

A clearing kick is brought back thunderously on a great break from Rollie, again, resulting in the Scots breaching the 22 for what feels like the 30th time this half.

Again though, they can’t take advantage of their field position. Scotland are pinged for hanging on, letting Wales off the hook.

From a scrum in the midfield, Scotland work a brilliant set play straight from the training ground, with Emma Orr and Lisa Thomson linking brilliantly to scythe through the Welsh defence.

Thomson bumps one off and is taken down by the second. As it’s flung out of the ruck though, it’s knocked on and Wales will have a scrum in their 22.

The decision is ‘obstruction’ and the try has been overturned.

We’ll go back for a penalty to Wales.

But hang on!

The ref is going to the TMO for a potentially illegal maul setup.

The lineout is good and the rumble comes.

It’s short lived though. Under penalty advantage, Scotland gain their courage and throw their bodies towards the line – it’s held up though.

Again they go to the corner – these penalties are racking up against the away side now. Again they rumble, and this time – THEY’RE OVER!!

Rachel Malcolm – Captain Fantastic – receives the plaudits. It makes for a tough conversion for Nelson this time, out on the left hand touchline. But she nails it! (Scotland 10 – 7 Wales)

The lineout is overthrown though and Wales clear.

From the Scottish lineout, the ball is thrown wide to Rollie, who claims valuable metres up the left wing, and into the 22 again.

Again a penalty for Scotland, this time for a head-high shot. And again they go to the corner, for a rumble.

Great defensive pressure from Scotland from the kick off. Wales were getting nowhere and decided to get creative… too creative.

A rogue pass inside was knocked on by the team in red and Scotland have a scrum on their 40m line, and a chance to build.

From the scrum they win a penalty and look to kick towards the 22. It’s a beauty from Nelson.

It’s near enough out in front on the 22 and Nelson duly slots it.

She’s now outright second top scorer for Scotland Women’s.

The deficit is indeed reduced to four. (Scotland 3 – 7 Wales)

After a settling period, and aerial ping pong, Scotland again go for a chip and chase through Nelson, and again it pays off – this time through the bounce of the ball.

They win it on the left wing and cut across to rack up phases on the right, where a penalty is given to the home side for offside.

Nelson points to the posts and will look to cut the deficit to four.

The resulting lineout from the Welsh clearance is turned over to the home side, and scrum half Leia Brebner-Holden goes herself, making good metres.

Then, a clever chip and chase from Nelson finds the hands of Caity Mattinson, who speeds off into the Welsh 22.

With Scotland camped on the line, it’s nicked by the Welsh in the ruck, and they have a chance to steady the ship.

The response is immediate from Scotland though.

Winning back the kickoff, they spin it wide into the hands of Francesca McGhie, who makes good metres up to the 22.

It all comes to nothing though as the referee says the home side has hung on in the tackle, giving Wales a chance to clear their lines.

It’s a scrum penalty for the Welsh though. Huge pressure being exerted by the women in red at the moment.

They opt to kick for the corner and set up a rumble.

The lineout is good and the drive does indeed come. Off the back they go, through Kayleigh Powell, then through Bethan Lewis, and eventually to the hands of hooker Carys Phillips who crashes over for the match’s opening score.

Conversion is good from Bevan. (Scotland 0 – 7 Wales)

The Welsh attack reaches the 22 after 1o or so phases of patient build up.

A half back snipe from Keira Bevan nearly breaks the line again, but as she goes to offload, it’s knocked on by a Welsh hand on the 5m line.

Scotland to feed the scrum.

It’s Wales to kick off through fly half Lleucu George.

She puts it deep and into the hands of Rachel McLachlan, who takes it down well on the edge of the Scottish 22.

A few phases before it’s cleared by fly half Helen Nelson out to half way, where the Welsh regather.

We are just moments away now – but first, the anthems.

Anticipation is building, and the stands are filling, as we are just 20 minutes out from kick off.

If you can’t make it to the match today, you can catch all the action live on BBC 2.

We are now just three-quarters of an hour from kick off here at Hive.

We’re currently sitting on 12 degrees – it’s nice and calm, for now.

Ahead lies a drop off in weather though, we’re scheduled to hit 9 degrees; and there’s an increasing chance of rain too.

Let’s cross our fingers and hope for a dry (and warm) game this afternoon.

Today’s match officials are:

Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
AR1: Jess Ling (Australia)
AR2: Shanda Assmus (Canada)
TMO: Oli Kellet (Australia)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (England)

Wales have won the toss and will be kicking off.

Scotland will attack from left to right – away from Scottish Gas Murrayfield, in the first half.

Here’s how the Welsh line up today:

Stories abound in today’s fixture for the Scots.

A debutant straight into the starting XV; another debutant waiting in the wings; two first starts; a first Six Nations match; and more.

The statistics:

• Elliann Clarke and Anne Young both earn their first Six Nations start, playing across the front-row.
• Hollie Cunningham will become Scotland Women cap 241 when she takes to the pitch, and Adelle Ferrie could be cap 242 should she come off the bench.
• It’s Evie Wills’ first cap in three years, should she be called upon from the bench.
• Lisa Thomson and Evie Gallagher made the fourth and fifth most carries across the enter competition last year, with 55 and 54 carries respectively.

The six most recent meetings between Scotland and Wales, going back to the Covid era, sees three wins apiece.

All but two of those have been decided by a score or less:

• Scotland 40-14 Wales – Hive Stadium, 6 September 2024
• Wales 18-20 Scotland – Cardiff Arms Park, 23 March 2024
• Scotland 22-34 Wales – Hive Stadium, 1 April 2023
• Scotland 15-18 Wales – Okara Park, 9 October 2022
• Wales 24-19 Scotland – Cardiff Arms Park, 2 April 2022
• Scotland 27-20 Wales – Scotstoun Stadium, 24 April 2021

Hello, and thank you for joining us for today’s opening round fixture in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, between the home nation Scotland, and the visitors, Wales.

We are an hour and a half out from kick off here at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh. It’s been a beautiful day in the capital so far, but the clouds are numerous and looming… more on that later.

But for now, keep checking in as we bring you team news, coin toss information, and some behind the scenes preparation shots as we near kick off.