Reid Leads The Challenge Against Wales

Buoyed by their recent victory over Sweden, Scotland Women – again captained by Lynne Reid – are eagerly anticipating their Six Nations opener against Wales at Meggetland, Edinburgh on Sunday (8 February, kick-off 12 noon, admission free).Scotland Women Head Coach Jamie Dempsey reckons that last month’s comprehensive win over Sweden (32-0) gave the entire squad a massive boost going into this Championship.”It provided us with a good bench mark to see where we are, as a team, and allowed us to set realistic objectives going forward. “This first game is absolutely vital, before we start planning ahead, however. A victory would give us a welcome boost into the rest of the Championship.”Wales represents a huge challenge for us – they finished second in last year’s Championships and second in the European Championships – and we played them twice last season so we know how good they are.”Who wins the go-forward ball will be critical and we must contest every Welsh ball. They have an excellent back row and an absolutely international class goal kicker, so we need to be extra sure not to give away penalties.”It’s going to be a very competitive tournament – more so than last year, I’d say – and we can’t afford to focus on anything other than the game in hand.”Scotland Women team to face Wales Women at Meggetland on 8 February (kick-off 12 noon, admission free) 15 Lynsey Douglas (Richmond)14 Cara D’Silva (Royal High Corstorphine)13 Lucy Millard (Murrayfield Wanderers)12 Suzi Newton (Team Northumbria)11 Veronica Fitzpatrick (Royal High Corstorphine)10 Erin Kerr (Richmond)9 Sarah Gill (Murrayfield Wanderers)1 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead / Jordanhill)2 Sarah-Louise Walker (Watsonians)3 Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers)4 Louise Moffat (Kirkcaldy)5 Lindsay Wheeler (Team Northumbria)6 Keri Holdsworth (Watsonians)7 Lynne Reid CAPTAIN (Royal High Corstorphine)8 Susie Brown (Hillhead / Jordanhill)Substitutes16 Nikki McLeod (Edinburgh University)17 Ellen Beattie (Murrayfield Wanderers)18 Joy Lyth (Lismore)19 Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers)20 Louise Dalgleish (Royal High Corstorphine)21 Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers)22 Victoria Blakeborough (Richmond)• Admission is free to all Scotland’s age grade, A and Women’s Six Nations home matches. No tickets or vouchers are required – just turn up. Scotland Women match schedule 2009 6 Nations fixturesScotland v Wales, Sunday 8 February, Meggetland, kick-off 12noon France v Scotland, Sunday 15 February, Arras, kick-off 3pmScotland v Italy, Saturday 28 February, Meggetland, kick-off 12noon Scotland v Ireland, Friday 13 March, Meggetland, kick-off 7.30pm  England v Scotland, Saturday 21 March, London Welsh, kick-off 1.30pm