Captain Carys tells Wales to be clinical
HANNAH Bluck’s try on debut for Wales helped her side survive a late onslaught from Scotland in a thrilling opening to the 2018 Women's Six Nations.
Looking for revenge for last season’s 15-14 defeat in Scotland, Wales started brightly and earned a first-half lead thanks to tries by wingers Jess Kavanagh-Williams and Bluck.
Scotland full-back Chloe Rollie claimed a try back after the break, with Kerin Lake responding for Wales before Rollie grabbed her second with a wonderful effort.
Ten minutes from time Jade Konkel burrowed over to ensure a tense finish, with Lana Skeldon’s conversion cutting Wales’ lead to 18-17, but Scotland couldn’t complete the comeback.
Wales captain Carys Phillips was pleased with the win but knows her side need to be more clinical for England next week.
Phillips, who won the player-of-the-match award, rued missed opportunities with her side failing to score from several overlaps.
“When you look back at that game we probably gave away too much possession or we created chances that we didn’t take,” she said. “We could have got a lot more out of that game but to get a win to start the campaign off and get our momentum going into the next one is brilliant for us. We just need to be more clinical with ball in hand.”
Wales head coach Rowland Phillips will be all the more pleased with the result given that he handed debut caps to four players: scrum-half Jade Knight, flanker Beth Lewis, second row Natalia John and Cardiff Blues winger Bluck.
Wales will no doubt look to improve on a secondhalf performance that allowed Scotland to fight back from 18-5 down, but skipper Phillips couldn’t fault the mental application of her teammates.
“The line speed of our defence was excellent,” said the hooker. “Our setpieces again were excellent and the determination not to give up at the end and secure the turnover at the end for us to get that win.
“We create a culture where we have to fight for each other and I think we showed that.”
Scotland captain Lisa Martin admitted her side gave themselves too much to do after that opening half.
Martin said: “We gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb, but it was breath-taking. In the second half, we showed what Scottish rugby is about and the game plan we’re looking to play.”