Wales bounced back from their opening weekend defeat to beat Scotland 20-17 in a tight Six Nations clash in Cardiff.
The sides went in at half-time level, after Tomas Francis cancelled out Darcy Graham’s try and Dan Biggar and Finn Russell exchanged kicks.
It remained all square until Russell was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on in the second-half, and Biggar put Wales in front with a timely drop goal.
Scotland were unable to find a response, as Wales got their campaign back on track after last week’s disappointment in Dublin.
On his 100th international appearance, Biggar made a confident start as he knocked over two penalties to put Wales in front in the opening ten minutes.
But Scotland responded well, as Russell flung it out wide for Graham and he finished brilliantly in the corner for the first try of the match.
It was then Russell’s turn to kick a couple of penalties for his side as Scotland moved ahead, as indiscipline from both teams meant the scoreboard was regularly added to.
Wales got themselves level after a powerful driving maul from a lineout, as Francis toppled over with the help of a shove from teammate Ryan Elias. Biggar was unable to add the conversion, as the sides went into the break level at 14-14.
The second-half started in an extremely cagey manner with plenty of kicking. Wales conceded another penalty to give Russell a simple kick in front of the posts which put Scotland back in the lead.
Alex Cuthbert was held up on the line as Wales put the pressure on, but they had a penalty advantage and Biggar knocked it over to once again bring the teams level with 20 minutes remaining.
A penalty from the halfway line resulted in a decisive passage of play. Biggar’s kick didn’t quite have enough on it, bouncing off the crossbar but a Wales shirt claimed it. They worked it wide and Cuthbert thought he had gone over in the corner, but replays showed he was in touch.
However, the TMO saw a deliberate knock-on from Russell in the build-up and he was sent to the sin-bin. Wales piled on the pressure looking for a try, but Biggar settled for the three points with a drop-goal to put his side three points in front heading into the final ten minutes.
Russell was back on for the final couple of minutes but Scotland were unable to fashion a late opportunity, as they fell to their first defeat of this year’s Six Nations which stalls the momentum they had after victory over England at Murrayfield last week.
