Scotland 11
Wales 18
WARREN GATLAND’S WALES have kept their Grand Slam hopes alive after beating Scotland at Murrayfield this afternoon.
Wales celebrate Jonathan Davies’ try. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
First-half tries by winger Josh Adams and centre Jonathan Davies helped Wales absorb a fierce fightback by an injury-battered Scotland to set up a potential tournament clincher against reigning champions Ireland in Cardiff next weekend.
After a week of turmoil in Welsh rugby, with an on-off proposed merger between the Ospreys and the Scarlets, Warren Gatland’s side stretched their record winning run to 13 Test matches with a clinical first-half display and a backs-to-the-wall second-half defensive effort.
Wales went into the contest without a first-half try in this year’s championship but showed early intent, zipping the ball out wide to Adams, whose chip up the right wing was covered by Finn Russell.
It was Scotland, prompted by their razor-sharp out-half, who temporarily seized the attacking initiative thereafter and Russell kicked them into a 10th-minute lead.
Not that the home side remained in the ascendancy for long. Running through the phases, Wales stretched their defence to breaking point three minutes later, Worcester wing Adams skipping past fullback Blair Kinghorn on the left before touching down behind the posts for his third try in as many matches.
Gareth Anscombe’s conversion made it 7-3 to the visitors and, though Russell’s second success at goal fleetingly pegged the deficit, Wales’ New Zealand born out-half nailed his first penalty after 23 minutes to give his side a 10-6 advantage.
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The Scots had been obliged to contend with considerable disruption to their personnel, flanker Jamie Ritchie leaving the field with a head injury after eight minutes, to be replaced by Hamish Watson, who lasted just five minutes before departing with a blood injury.
The Scots also lost winger Tommy Seymour to a shoulder injury before Wales struck for a second time after 29 minutes.
Tempers flair. Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO
This time Gatland’s men patiently cranked through 23 phases before centre Jonathan Davies cut through the defensive line to score. Anscombe was off target with the conversion but Wales led 15-6 at the break.