In the opening fixture of the 2014 Celtic Nations Scotland Bravehearts stemmed a defiant Wales Dragonhearts’ come-back to secure an 18–16 win in Aberdeen. The Scots started off as the better team and with a strong pack they laid the foundations for the attack which saw the backs utilise the space and put Tom Murray over the whitewash for the opening score. Fee converted.

The lead didn’t last long as Wales aggressively attacked the Scottish line before Lee Goddard burst over. Callum Bennett converted. Scotland worked again up the middle before spreading the ball wide. The forwards settled the play and some jinxy running from Dave Vernon from dummy half put the Scots back in the lead, Fee converted to make the score 12-6.

Scotland continued to applied pressure on the Welsh line and were given a man advantage after Nathan Hawkins was sin binned for a reoffending high tackle. Scotland failed to take advantage of the extra man and following a fight both Scotland’s Lance Tallett and Wales’ Chris True were sin binned. Wales applied pressure in the Scottish 20 but a strong Scottish Defensive line kept the scores level before Wales conceded penalties that gave the Scots field position and following a return to play, Tallett glided over with Fee converting to give Scotland a halftime lead of 18–6.

The second half started poorly with both teams coming up with scrappy play but it was Dan Davies who came up with the goods to bring the score to 18–10. Scotland were under pressure for the majority of the second half following a series of ill-discipline from the Scots. With 24 Minutes to go, Geraint Clarke darted through the Scottish line to ground. Bennett’s conversion brought the Welsh within two points. 

The Scots continued to put themselves under pressure and indiscipline almost cost them the match as a series of penalties to the Welsh put them on the back-foot but some fantastic scramble defence from debutant Stuart Barlow saved the Scots in the dying moment as the recorded a historic first victory in the Granite City.

Picture credit: Sarah McMichael Photography

SCOTLAND BRAVEHEARTS
Kyle Matheson, Grant Walker, Matt McCall, Tom Murray, Gregor Ramsay, Stu Fee, Tom Aplin, Colin Jarvis, Dave Vernon, Stuart Gray, Ali Maxwell, Matt McNee, Lance Tallett. Subs: Aaron Robertson, Andrew Little, Shane Clark, Gary Adams, Stuart Barlow, Sam Herron, Billy Bissett, Dom Wallen

WALES LIONHEARTS
Aled Jones, John Ketland, Lee Harden-Jones, Nathan Hawkins, Tylan Mafi, Anthony Tilley, Callum Bennett, Bobby Andrews, Bradley Hill, Geraint Clarke, Chris True, Dan Davies, Darryl Carter. Subs: Gareth Way, Mike Hurley, Scott Britton, Ryan Bates, Paul Emmanuelli, Dan Henderson, Lee Goddard