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Six Nations | Group Stage
Feb 15, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Scotland
23-26
Wales
Hogg (10'), Hamilton (80')
FT
Webb (34'), Davies (65')

Wales up and running in Six Nations with Scotland win

Wales beat Scotland 26-23 at Murrayfield to pick up their first win of the 2015 Six Nations.

Wales bounced back from their opening-game disappointment to pick up their first win of this year's Six Nations by beating Scotland 26-23 at Murrayfield.

The Red Dragons have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning every meeting between the pair since 2007, and it was they who got off the mark quickest in Edinburgh.

Wales's centre Jonathan Davies celebrates scoring a try with Wales's scrum half Rhys Webb during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Scotland and Wales at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on February 15, 2015© Getty Images

Scotland were guilty of giving away a number of early penalties, and they were duly punished when the ever-reliable Leigh Halfpenny split the sticks to get his side off the mark on seven minutes.

That lead did not last long, however, with Scotland opening the try count courtesy of Stuart Hogg, who managed to run through unchecked after a Wales move broke down.

Grieg Laidlwaw converted the kick and added a further three points from a penalty soon after to swing the game completely in Scotland's favour.

It was to be Warren Gatland's charges who dug deepest to wrestle control before the interval, though, adding six more points thanks to the strong kicking of Halfpenny, and there was to be more bad news for Scotland when Finn Russell's clumsy challenge saw him shown a yellow.

Wales, still reeling from last weekend's collapse at home against arch-rivals England, made the most of the man advantage when Rhys Webb crossed over on the back of a good team move.

Laidlaw's second penalty of the evening reduced the arrears somewhat as Scotland began to mount their comeback in the early stages of the second half.

Neither side could find another way through to the try line, though, and it was a case of keeping the scores ticking along as both Halfpenny and Laidlaw added further pens.

Then, with 15 minutes left to play, Jonathan Davies was picked out by Dan Biggar to eventually cross over the whitewash and give Wales the breathing space that they needed for the first time.

It was a case of the visitors remaining resilient in the final stages of the contest and halting Scotland from advancing forward, but Vern Cotter's men did appear to have a lifeline when Mark Bennett touched down.

However, a knock-on in the build-up to the try saw it cruelly ruled out by the match official, denting Scottish hopes further.

There was still time for Jim Hamilton to add a late consolation for Scotland, but it proved to be just that as time was against a side who remain without a win from their opening two games.

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Rhys Webb of Wales goes over to score the opening try during the RBS Six Nations match between Wales and England at the Millennium Stadium on February 6, 2015
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