Scotland played Wales in the penultimate match of the amateur 4 Nations Championship at Peffermill Playing Fields, Edinburgh, with the winner of the match likely to be crowned the tournament champions. Scotland went into the match having won their first two fixtures against England and Ireland whilst the Welsh had defeated Ireland and conceded a win to England.
The matches between Scotland and Wales are always physical encounters and this match was no different. The packs of both teams put in some big hits from Scotland's John Cox and Wales' Graeme Hughes in the opening minutes. Wales finally broke the early deadlock with a score of the back of a scrum, moving the ball wide for Gareth Howells to slide over in the corner.
Both squads worked the ball well and defended bravely but it was Scotland who were able to capitalise on the possession with an excellent link play from Seb Trotter and Barry Earl to put Stuart Fee in over. Fee converted his own kick to level the scores at 6 - 6.
The match levelled out as both teams attacked and defended well before Wales centre James Allen scooted through the ruck to score under the posts. Emanuelli converted (6 - 12). Scotland fought back with Scott Wilson receiving the ball deep in the Scots half from a high kick. Wilson offloaded to Massey who broke the line and offloaded to Clendenning - Fenton who jinxed his way past the Welsh Full back to score. Fee converted (12 - 12).
Scotland recovered the kick from the re-start but were thwarted by a Welsh charge of the 5th tackle that saw the Welsh score through Rhodri Morris score with Emanuelli converting.
HALF TIME - Scotland 12 - 18 Wales
Scotland began dominating the match at the beginning of the second half with Scott Wilson breaking the welsh line after a floated pass from Trotter but the welsh were gifted possession after a knock-on. Cox intercepted but again the ball was lost by the Scots and despite possession they found themselves 12 - 22 down after a kick through was gathered by Chris Holcome.
Wales knocked on from the re-start which allowed runs from Massey and Mackenzie to set a platform for a Scottish attack. Scotland spread the ball wide before Fenton and Matheson linked to put Lomax over the line for a score. Earl converted (18 - 22).
Scotland began to respect possession in the second half and one of the best scores of the day came from a bomb kick from Earl that bounced perfectly into the Welsh goal area allowing Scott Wilson to beat his opposition to score the try. Fee converted (24 -22).
Wales begun to mount pressure on the Scots but they held on and mounted an attack of their own, quick hands from David Lynn and Dave Linton pushed the ball out to the wing where fullback Nick Broere slid over to give Scotland a 6 point lead with 10 minutes remaining. (28 -22)
Wales again tried to pressurise the Scottish line but a knock on on 5th tackle handed possession back to the Scots who worked up the field through Matheson and Borthwick to provide a solid field position which Stuart Fee utilised to drop a goal. (29 - 22)
From the re-start the Scots looked to close the game out with Malakoty being caught high followed by another Matheson run and a Cox break but the play of the ball led to obstruction and a Welsh possession. The Scots held out and quick thinking by Stuart Fee led to an interception try that sealed the long awaited grand slam championship title.
FULL TIME - SCOTLAND ‘A' 35 - 22 WALES ‘A'
