Wales 28-18 Scotland (新聞) - 橄欖球

Reigning RBS 6 Nations champions Wales kick-started their campaign with a
comfortable victory over 14-man Scotland at the Millennium Stadium.

The Scots, cock-a-hoop after beating tournament favourites France last
weekend, crashed back to earth after lock Scott Murray was sent off for
kicking Wales forward Ian Gough in the head.

Murray, the first Scottish player to be red-carded in a Test match since
2002, departed after just 22 minutes, with New Zealand referee Steve Walsh
also sin-binning Gough for a late tackle on Murray.

Scotland, who had conceded a sixth-minute penalty try when Wales exerted
scrum dominance, battled bravely to stay in touch.

But Wales' one-man advantage inevitably told, and skipper Gareth Thomas
claimed a try double, taking his Test tally to 36, while lock Robert Sidoli
also touched down, with fly-half Stephen Jones slotting four conversions.

It was a satisfactory Welsh response to their 47-13 drubbing against England
at Twickenham last Saturday.

Although Scotland managed late consolation tries from full-back Hugo
Southwell and wing Chris Paterson, who also kicked two penalties and a
conversion, main line-out operator Murray's departure left a huge void.

Wales attempted to produce their renowned wide game, and with scrum-half
Dwayne Peel the architect of those confident attacking efforts, Scotland were
ultimately run to a standstill.

Scotland's defeat means England - who visit Murrayfield when the tournament
resumes on February 25 - are RBS 6 Nations leaders by two points, and now the
only team who could clinch a Grand Slam this season.

Wales, meanwhile, will travel in confident mood to Dublin, where Ireland
await in a fortnight.

(轉自 http://www.6nations.net/ )

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