Women’s RBS 6 Nations

Wales 20 Scotland 0

OA Saints’ Caroline Collie was unable to help Scotland record their first victory in this year’s Women’s RBS 6 Nations as Wales ran out 20-0 winners at Cross Keys.

Collie, a late replacement in last week’s defeat to England, was handed a berth in Scotland’s starting XV as head coach Karen Findlay looked to reverse her side’s fortunes.

Despite the difficult conditions underfoot the Scots started in determined mood producing a good defensive display in the opening 20 minutes that saw Wales rebuffed.

However, Wales eventually found a route through the Scots’ defence courtesy of No.8 Jamie Kift and less than 10 minutes later captain Rachel Taylor crossed the line to put Wales 10-0 ahead.

The visitors responded positively with Collie’s colleague on the opposite wing, Sarah Dixon, making a line break down her channel only to see her attempt held up just short of the try-line.

In the final throes of the first half Wales added a third try when a race for the line resulted in scrum-half Amy Day finding a gap to burrow over and increase Wales’ lead to 15-0.

Day grabbed her second score of the afternoon early in the second half but yet again the try went unconverted.

Scotland closed ranks in the second half and more determined defence including a try-saving tackle from Collie’s replacement, Katy Green, meant the home side were unable to add to their tally. Dixon and Wales replacement De Filippo both earned yellow cards, in separate incidents, as both teams ended the contest with 14 players.

Scotland head coach Findlay told the Scotland Rugby website: “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.”

Scotland Women: Johnstone, Collie (Green), Steven, Martin, Dixon , Griffith (Ritchie), Dalgliesh; McKerlie-Hex (Lockhart), Quick (Smith), Balmer (Dickens), Swan, Forsyth (Muir), Forsberg (Veale), Slaven , Wheeler.