In a thrilling encounter at Hive Stadium, Scotland emerged victorious over Wales with a score of 24-21, kicking off their campaign in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations on a high note. Despite challenging weather conditions and a series of stoppages, the home team showcased tenacity, resilience, and a strategic approach that ultimately secured them the win.
The match started in favor of Wales, with hooker Carys Phillips making an early impact. After just five minutes, she burrowed through the Scotland defense to score the game’s opening try, converted by scrum-half Keira Bevan, putting the visitors up 7-0.
Not to be sidelined for long, Scotland responded effectively. Following an initial struggle to build momentum, they found their footing by capitalizing on a penalty earned from a Welsh infringement at the 16-minute mark. Helen Nelson slotted the penalty through the posts effortlessly, bringing the score to 3-7.
Scotland would have taken the lead shortly after when captain Rachel Malcolm appeared to score from a line-out maul. However, that try was disallowed due to an illegal obstruction, leaving the home crowd frustrated. But their persistence paid off just before half-time when Scottish second-row Sarah Bonar scored a try following aggressive forward play, expertly converted by Nelson to turn the match around at 10-7.
As half-time approached, Wales’ Georgia Evans received a yellow card for collapsing a maul, leaving them a player down as the teams went into the break. However, the match was far from over.
Scotland surged out of the blocks at the start of the second half, demonstrating a renewed energy. Although an early Scotland try by Evie Gallagher was ruled out for obstruction, it was only moments later that the home side finally capitalized on a chaotic moment in the Welsh defense. After a tackle, Emma Orr snapped up a loose ball and sprinted for the try line, stretching the score to 17-7 with another conversion from Nelson in the early minutes of the half.
The match reached a turning point when both teams faced significant disciplinary issues. Evans returned from her earlier yellow card only to be sent off again for a high tackle shortly thereafter, leading to a 20-minute red card. Scotland’s Gallagher faced a similar fate, receiving a red card after a dangerous clear-out, further complicating the dynamics of the game.
Wales took advantage of Scotland's player loss, scoring through Abbie Fleming from a line-out maul, with Bevan converting afterward to narrow the score to 17-14. The visitors showed they were not backing down.
Faced with mounting pressure, Scotland responded with a just-in-time attack. Player Leah Bartlett scored a crucial try after some electric footwork and slick passing following a break by Orr. Nelson’s conversion restored Scotland’s cushion to 24-14 with only 15 minutes remaining.
Yet, the drama continued as Welsh replacement Gwenllian Pyrs crossed over in the dying minutes of the game, bringing Wales within reach at 24-21 after Bevan's conversion.
Scotland needed composure to manage the closing minutes, and their experience began to show as they ran down the clock, aided by a defensive performance that held firm against a resurgent Welsh side. This victory marks a promising start for Scotland in the tournament, demonstrating their ability to grind out results when faced with adversity.
Helen Nelson was notably named the Guinness Player of the Match for her pivotal contributions, which included scoring a penalty and executing conversions that played a significant role in the final scoreline. Following the match, Scotland's captain Rachel Malcolm expressed pride in her team's ability to withstand pressure and manage the game's intensity late on, stating, "I am thrilled to be on the winning side... The energy and fight that Wales brought made it extremely difficult for us. They never backed down at any point.”
Meanwhile, Wales' new head coach Sean Lynn recognized his team's spirited approach even in defeat, asserting, "I asked the players to bring energy and passion and I couldn’t fault them today. There are things we need to work on, but there are a lot of positives.”
The match not only served as the opening of the Women’s Six Nations for both teams but also set the tone as Scotland prepares to face France, who recently triumphed over Ireland, in their next fixture. The challenges are ever-present in a tournament of this caliber, but if today’s match is any indication, Scotland will head into their next game with confidence and determination, looking to build upon the strong foundations laid in their opening victory.
