WALES FIGHT BACK TO BAG A SECOND SIX NATIONS WIN
WALES pulled off a nail-biting comeback win against Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations in front of a record crowd at Cardiff Arms Park.
Ioan Cunningham’s side were behind or level until the second half but a post-break revival in attack and outstanding defence on their own line in the dying minutes as Scotland relentlessly bid for a levelling try ensured a second win from two outings in the TikTok Six Nations, which is also Wales’ first home championship win in three years.
The match - a game of two halves - was attended by a record crowd of 4,875, a new benchmark for a standalone women’s rugby international in Wales.
For a second consecutive week - after a thrilling comeback win to beat Ireland 27-19 last time out - Wales left it late to ensure a bonuspoint victory but their driving maul and lineout proved once again to be a major strength.
Scotland didn’t take long to convert their early momentum into points, with Lana Skeldon marking her 50th international appearance by crossing after a Scottish driving maul just three minutes in.
Helen Nelson converted to give the visitors a seven-point lead.
Wales fly-half Elinor Snowsill opted for a lineout after 20 minutes when awarded a penalty to give Wales their best attacking position so far. The driving maul was strong once again, as it was in Dublin, allowing Carys Phillips to power over. Keira Bevan added the extras to take the scores level.
Scotland responded on 32 minutes by pressing down the right and after plenty of pressure the ball was kicked beyond the whitewash and grounded by winger Rhona Lloyd, despite Jasmine Joyce and Kayleigh Powell appearing to have it covered - but for a cruel bounce. The conversion was good again, giving Scotland a seven-point lead.
Wales’ first half closed with a yellow card for centre Kerin Lake for not rolling away, meaning they started the second half down to 14 players. Scotland winger Lloyd made an early break down the right before the ball was eventually recycled to her for Scotland to get an early third try, although the conversion was unsuccessful.
Wales centre Hannah Jones responded with an impressive break through the Scottish defence, but was brought down, only for replacement Sioned Harries to get to the breakdown quickly to sneak in to score. Bevan added the extras to take Wales’ deficit to just 15 points.
Bevan soon made a brilliant break of her own, with Wales’ attack coming to life in the second half as they controlled the flow of the game and upped the tempo.
Bevan was soon taken off for Ffion Lewis to come on, and Scotland prop Leah Bartlett was yellow carded after plenty of Welsh pressure at the scrum.
It proved a turning point, as Wales powered over with a driving maul for Kelsey Jones to score on 63 minutes to level the scores, with the conversion wide.
The clock struck 75 minutes, Scotland were back up to 15 players and Wales showed their clinical edge in the lineout once again before a powerful driving maul ensued.
Captain Siwan Lillicrap made a strong carry only for Alisha Butchers to dance through the defence to get the ball to scrum-half Lewis who raced over the tryline with the Arms Park crowd on their feet. Snowswill’s conversion was wide again, but Wales now enjoyed a 24-19 lead.
There ensued a nail-biting finale, which saw Scotland get a penalty after Lillicrap narrowly avoided a yellow card for a knockon.
Scotland were relentless just a few metres from Wales’ try line, but Wales defended with everything they had and the ball eventually popped out of the ruck to be dived onto by Welsh bodies before Snowsill booted the ball out of play.
Wild celebrations and a rapturous applause ensued with the brilliant victory.