Scotland Women Kick Off New Year In Spain

Scotland Women took on their Spanish counterparts this afternoon, fielding a team captained by Susie Brown (pictured left) and featuring nine new caps.Under sunny skies in Madrid, the new-look Scotland side faced a well established Spanish outfit, in the visitor’s first international since last summer’s Rugby World Cup.Photo: www.photoscrum.com  A promising start saw newcomer Caroline Collie put the Scots ahead after 10 minutes with a well-placed penalty. The hosts replied eight minutes later with a try from a pick-and-go drive to the line. After 25 minutes, a further successful penalty from Collie saw Scotland lead 5-6 but an almost identical pick-and-go from the Spanish saw them nail a second try three minutes later. The lead changed hands again eight minutes before the break, when Anna Swan crossed the whitewash, following a lineout. The conversion from Collie put the Scots 13-10 ahead, though a try right on 40 minutes from Spain saw the home side take the lead at half time.Half time: 13-15Substitutions at half time saw Tracy Balmer and Jenny Johnstone make their debuts (on for Dickens and Forsberg, with Lewis moving to 7). Despite pressure from the Scots, it was Spain who added the next points to the board, with a penalty after 50 minutes, then a try at 66 minutes. With one minute to go, a run of open play then saw the hosts add to their tally with another try from the wing.Full time: 13-28 Scotland Women v Spain Women, Madrid, 3 January 2011 15 Caroline Collie (Old Albanians)14 Lauren Harris (Aberdeenshire Quines)13 Victoria Blakebrough (Richmond)12 Stephanie Johnston (Hillhead Jordanhill)11 Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers)10 Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers)9 Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars)1 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill)2 Alison MacDonald (RHC Cougars)3 Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers)4 Anna Swan (Edinburgh University)5 Lindsay Wheeler (Darlington Mowden Sharks)6 Charlotte Lewis (Navy)8 Susie Brown (Richmond)7 Tess Forsberg (Richmond)Substitutes16 Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill)17 Tracy Balmer (Worcester) (on for Dickens)18 Jenny Johnstone (Hillhead Jordanhill) (on for Forsberg)19 Suzanne McKerlie-Hex (Kirkcaldy) (on for Swan)20 Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars) (on for Harris)21 Nicola Halfpenny (Melrose) (on for Green)22 Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle Cougars) (on for Martin)For profiles on team members please click here