Scots blow it as Wales hit back to win
SCOTLAND were the architects of their own downfall as they let a 12-point lead slip through their fingers against Wales.
They had more chances than the Welsh but didn’t have the cutting edge to take them as they fell to their second consecutive Six Nations defeat.
Scotland were level with four minutes to go but with the game hanging in the balance, Wales replacement Ffion Lewis ran in unopposed for the winning bonus-point try in front of a record crowd for a Welsh women’s international of 4,875.
Scotland head coach Bryan Easson praised his team’s overall performance in defeat but refused to comment on the one controversial incident of the match.
He would not be drawn on whether referee Joy Neville had made the right decision with two minutes left to only award a penalty against Welsh captain Siwan Lillicrap rather than show her a yellow card and award a penalty try to his team after she deliberately knocked on to disrupt a promising Scotland attack.
‘The officials had a bit of time to talk about it, it is a penalty, they have kept fifteen on the pitch,’ said Easson. ‘We had an opportunity to put the game to bed at the end but it hasn’t happened for us. It is the referee’s decision and we will stand by that.’
Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm also refused to comment on the incident and put the blame for the defeat on themselves.
‘We didn’t capitalise on the opportunities we had,’ said Malcolm. ‘We need to take our chances and be more clinical against France next weekend. As for the incident near the end, it is not for me to say as Joy and her team of three are very experienced and I trust their decision.’
Scotland made the perfect start after just two minutes when a well worked lineout drive was finished off by hooker Lana
Skeldon. Helen Nelson put over the conversion.
For the next 20 minutes
Scotland controlled the game, but much to their frustration could not put any more points on the board. Then, in their first sustained attack, the Welsh forwards showed great patience as they camped on the Scotland line before their hooker Carys Phillips went over. Keira Bevan put over the extras.
That turned out to be an isolated first-half Wales attack as Scotland continued to dominate territory and possession. On the half-hour mark they went through 24 phases knowing they had a penalty advantage.
Realising she could take a risk because of that, scrum-half Jenny Maxwell put a kick over the top that took a wicked bounce over the heads of two Welsh defenders into the hands of Rhona Lloyd, who couldn’t believe her luck. Nelson put over the extras.
Easson’s side made the perfect start to the second half, with Maxwell again involved as she set up a second try for Lloyd.
Against the run of play, Wales got a try back from replacement Sioned Harries with Bevan putting over the conversion. The Welsh were now dominating up front with Leah Bartlett shown a yellow card for collapsing the Scotland scrum.
From the next lineout Wales levelled when replacement
Kelsey Jones dived over from a driving maul. With four minutes left Wales got the winning touchdown after a great break from Alisha Butchers who gave the ball in to Lewis who ran in to score. Lillicrap then survived amid the late flashpoint.
SCORERS; Wales — Tries:
Lewis. Cons: Bevan (2). Scotland — Tries:
Lloyd (2). Cons: Nelson (2).