Scotland battle, but Wales triumph late in Cardiff

Late tries from Jamie Roberts and George North pushed Wales to a ninth successive victory over Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations Championship to stay firmly among this season's title contenders.

But tries in the last 15 minutes from centre Roberts and wing North to subdue an impressive Scottish performance that saw the visitors lead as late as midway through the second half.

Scrum-half Gareth Davies also touched down for Wales, courtesy of a magnificent early break, while fly-half Dan Biggar added three conversions and two penalties as Scotland's long wait for a win in Cardiff continued with a 27-23 defeat.

Tommy Seymour - who was outstanding throughout - and centre Duncan Taylor scored tries for Scotland, with skipper Greig Laidlaw adding 11 points from the boot and Duncan Weir adding a late conversion, yet they were ultimately outgunned during a game that saw them lose talismatic full-back Stuart Hogg to a back injury.

Wales, after a draw in Dublin last weekend, can go top of the championship if they beat next opponents France, but Scotland have played two, lost two, following an opening 15-9 defeat at home to England.

A closed stadium roof greeted Scotland's first Cardiff visit since they were crushed by a record 51-3 margin two years ago, while Wales were led out by centre Jonathan Davies on the occasion of his 50th cap.

Scotland threatened inside 60 seconds when full-back Hogg was freed in space by a Richie Gray pass, but Wales covered well and then gained a scrum penalty after their young Scarlets props Rob Evans and Samson Lee made an immediate presence felt.

And Wales opened the scoring in spectacular fashion after seven minutes when Jamie Roberts knocked possession back in an aerial encounter and Davies pounced from 40 metres, outpacing Scotland's defensive cover to claim a sixth try in his last seven Test appearances.

Biggar added the conversion for a 7-0 lead after as many minutes but Scotland hit back following a spell of pressure when Russell kicked cleverly into space and Seymour finished off in the corner before Laidlaw's conversion tied things up.

The visitors suffered a major injury blow 11 minutes before the break when Hogg went off to be replaced by Jackson. Yet it did not unsettle them as Laidlaw kicked a long-range penalty, making it 10-7.

Although Biggar quickly wiped out the deficit with a penalty, Laidlaw accepted another chance on the stroke of half-time and Scotland deservedly held the interval advantage.

Apart from a dominant opening 10 minutes, Wales had struggled to make headway, yet they began the second period in determined fashion, and after a strong George North run that saw play taken on by lock Luke Charteris, Biggar's second successful penalty brought the home side level.

Wales boss Warren Gatland made a triple substitution after 48 minutes, sending on prop Gethin Jenkins for his 121st cap, hooker Ken Owens and lock Bradley Davies in an attempt to grasp control of the contest up front.

But Scotland regained some initiative when Wales full-back Liam Williams slipped and knocked on just outside his own 22, and the visitors gained a scrum penalty that Laidlaw landed to restore a three-point lead.

The game was threatening to open up, which Wales illustrated through wing Tom James' 60-metre break that Scotland centre Duncan Taylor halted with a brilliant cover-tackle, yet the home side had territorial control and established scrummaging control five metres out which started answering serious questions of their opponents.

Wales skipper Sam Warburton opted against taking a close-range penalty for another scrum, and the game had unquestionably arrived at a key moment, which was confirmed when Roberts smashed his way over and Biggar's conversion put Wales four points clear.

North then sealed it for Wales as the clock ticked down, although Taylor added a later try for Scotland, setting up a Cardiff showdown with unbeaten title rivals France in 13 days' time.

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