Francesca Mcghie Bags Hat-trick As Scotland Demolish Wales At Women’s Rugby World Cup

Scotland proved acold excessively beardown for Wales successful nan astir important crippled of nan opening play of nan Women’s Rugby World Cup to return a sizeable measurement towards qualification for nan quarter-finals for nan first clip since 2002.

These 2 nations person been progressive successful immoderate thrilling and nail-biting encounters successful caller years, but Scotland were acold excessively strong. This had each nan hallmarks of an early sudden-death pinch nan winners tipped to suffice from Pool B pinch Canada and perchance group up a last-eight gathering pinch England.

Scotland were acold superior, pinch Francesca McGhie scoring a awesome hat-trick to seal a comfortable bonus-point triumph and nonstop a beardown connection astir their hopes complete nan coming weeks. Wales, meanwhile, will astir apt request to hit Canada and Fiji to unafraid qualification.

Francesca McGhie celebrates pinch teammates aft scoring Scotland’s 2nd try. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The opening 40 minutes were surely compelling and Scotland had a nine-point advantage astatine nan interval. That was conscionable astir correct fixed they had enjoyed nan greater moments successful onslaught and nan superiority connected nan gainline. They took nan lead aft 55 seconds erstwhile immoderate good play down nan near freed McGhie.

Wales responded to that early setback good and 9 minutes later they were level arsenic Alex Callender drove complete nan statement pinch nan rolling maul excessively beardown for nan defence.

Scotland continued to amended arsenic nan half wore on, pinch much fantabulous handling sending McGhie complete for her second, earlier a punishment from nan footwear of Keira Bevan narrowed nan shortage to 2 points.

Seven minutes from nan break, Scotland opened up a two-score lead. They collapsed successful midfield and while nan defence scrambled backmost to halt that break nan Scotland onslaught remained patient. Several plays later, they took advantage erstwhile Leia Brebner-Holden crossed, pinch Helen Nelson’s extremity making it 17-8.

Wales could person small title astir that, but you felt they had to people first aft nan restart to stay successful contention. However, it was their opponents who erstwhile again began a half pinch greater superiority and they scored successful almost identical fashion, pinch McGhie completing her hat-trick aft a good break down nan left.

With Nelson converting again, a captious crippled was threatening to spiral retired of Wales’s grasp. If matters could not get overmuch worse, Gwen Crabb was sent to nan sin-bin soon aft McGhie’s hat-trick, but to their in installments they did past that 10-minute play without nan lock.

Within a infinitesimal of Crabb returning, Scotland flexed their muscles erstwhile again arsenic Evie Gallagher powered her measurement complete from adjacent scope aft different penalty. With nan defence visibly exhausted, Scotland confirmed their biggest triumph against Wales arsenic Emma Orr crossed successful nan last minute.