In a hard‑fought start at Principality Stadium, Wales fell 24‑12 to Scotland, showing a new defensive shape but faltering in attack and kicking. The first 30 minutes saw dominant tackles and a wide‑channel attack that kept the Scots wary.

Helen Nelson guided Scotland’s fly‑half play, slotting a kick behind Shona Campbell for a try, while Lucia Scott capitalised on a perfect Meryl Smith kick. Wales’ kicking game lagged, a point head coach Sean Lynn vows to address before the next match.

Despite the loss, Wales rallied after the break, with Donna Rose and Seren Lockwood opening line‑breaks that set up Kate Williams’ finish. The bench’s impact kept the score tight until the final minutes.

With a win still on the table, Wales must tighten defence, improve kicking and decide on a more effective line‑out structure to avoid a third consecutive Wooden Spoon heading into the final round.