Four try Wales too strong at home

The two packs do battle. Picture thanks to Rugby Matters.

Rhys Edwards' Wales demonstrated their attacking intent from the off with Naomi Thomas ghosting past her opposite number and releasing Charlie Murray. The ball was recycled and lost but the attack was a promising start from Wales, which was carried on by Adi Taviner.

Wales continued to exert pressure with Philippa Tuttiet and Caryl James combining to earn a penalty but Thomas was unable to open the scoring. Scotland defended bravely in the opening quarter despite the heavy conditions underfoot but a score was coming as Wales continued to attack.

The home side eventually got their breakthrough on 19 minutes following a trademark Thomas break. The fly-half was hauled down short but the ball was recycled and spread wide to Sioned Harries, who released Jamie Kift to score.

Speedy Scotland winger Sarah Dixon then made a fantastic line break down the wing and came very close to scoring but her her try attempt held up just short of the line.

Wales then extended their lead with a superb try on 28 minutes. James surged down the left wing, on the counter-attack and went outside Caroline Collie. She drew the full-back and passed inside to Jamie Kift, who flicked a sublime inside pass for Taylor to crash over.

Wales finished the half on a high with Tuttiet scorching through the midfield and coming agonisingly close to the whitewash. And Day sniped over from close-range following some strong forward drives. Thomas was unable to convert but the try had given Wales a 15-0 lead at the interval.

Just six minutes of the second-half had past when Day slide over for her second try. But Wales were unable to build on their 20-point lead with wholesale changes disrupting the flow of the game.

Plenty of solid, sustained defence from Scotland - including a try-saving tackle from replacement winger Katy Green - worked to hold the score at 20-0 with each team losing a player to a yellow card as the game drew to a close. In separate occurrences, Scotland's Sarah Dixon was penalised for not rolling away and substitute De Filippo ensured Wales ended the game with 14 players.

Scotland Head coach Karen Findlay said:"We defended very well for the first 20 minutes, had good shape, effective organisation and good tackling but we just lost focus for ten minutes and that was three tries."Two factors were critical today - our ball retention really let us down and our ability to make that ball safe once we carried it into contact. We just spilled too much ball today and you can't do that in international rugby."

Wales:15 Rosie Fletcher 14 Charlie Murray 13 Adi Taviner (Rebecca De Filippo, 31, Adi Taviner 38) 12 Philippa Tuttiett (Rebecca De Filippo 70) 11 Caryl James 10 Naomi Thomas (Mared Evans 65) 9 Amy Day (Laura Prosser 60) 1 Caryl Thomas (Megan York 67) 2 Rhian Bowden (Lowri Harries 67) 3 Jenny Davies 4 Vicky Owens 5 Shona Powell-Hughes 6 Sioned Harries (Sian Williams 70) 8 Jamie Kift 7 Rachel Taylor (Capt)

Scotland: 15 Stephanie Johnstone 14 Caroline Collie (Katy Green 6413 Laura Steven 12 Lisa Martin 11 Sarah Dixon 10 Tanya Griffith (Lisa Ritchie 46)9 Louise Dalgliesh; 1 Suzanne McKerlie-Hex (Heather Lockhart 40), 2 Sarah Quick (Lindsey Smith 64) 3 Tracy Balmer (Beth Dickens 64) 4 Anna Swan 5 Jemma Forsyth (Katherine Muir 77) 6 Tess Forsberg (Charlotte Veale 46)

7 Ruth Slaven 8 Lindsay Wheeler

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