Clinical Welsh clinch inaugural Doddie Weir Cup

WALES extended an unbeaten home record against Scotland to 10 Tests as they defeated their Six Nations rivals 21-10 in Cardiff.

Tries by British and Irish Lions Test stars George North and Jonathan Davies underpinned victory in the inaugural Doddie Weir Cup clash.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked 11 points to leave Scotland still without a win in Wales since 2002.

Skipper Stuart McInally scored a try for the visitors, while assured fly-half Adam Hastings booted a penalty and conversion, and Wales had to defend for long periods of the second half before subduing their opponents.

Both countries missed key person- nel due to injuries and unavailability but there was still plenty at stake.

Weir, who was at the game with his family, received a standing ovation from a 60,000-plus crowd when he brought the silver trophy out 15 minutes before kick-off, with a six-figure slice of gate receipts going to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

Halfpenny kicked Wales into a fourth-minute lead, but Scotland were keen to keep ball in hand.

But the hosts soon found an impressive rhythm and almost extended their lead after fly-half Gareth Anscombe’s kick into space found North, but a foot on the touchline denied him a try.

Halfpenny then landed a second penalty to double Wales’ lead, and gaps started to appear in the Scottish defence, with Ross Moriarty surging clear before being brought down by Dunbar’s scything tackle.

Full-back Halfpenny completed his penalty hat-trick after 21 minutes, before Hastings opened Scotland’s account four minutes later, but Wales’ attacking play did not go unrewarded.

Half-backs Gareth Davies and Anscombe combined impressively, and North shrugged off three Scotland defenders to claim a 34th Welsh try.

But Scotland hit back six minutes before half time when McInally powered over after a close-range lineout, and Hastings’ conversion made it 14-10 at the break.

Wales responded with an outstanding 48th-minute try that owed everything to Anscombe’s work off the ball before he freed Davies to score.

Halfpenny’s conversion opened up an 11-point advantage, but Scotland’s attacking lineout remained a potent weapon and they were denied a second try when lock Jonny Gray was adjudged to have made an illegal double movement in touching down.

Welsh replacement hooker Elliot Dee was sin-binned 10 minutes from time for a technical offence but the hosts were able to close the game out without any further scoring.