Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Scotland have won their last three Six Nations matches against Wales
Tries: Jones, Tuipulotu, Williams Cons: Bevan 2
Scotland (10) 24
Tries: Rollie, Campbell, Scott Cons: Nelson 3 Pen: Nelson
Scotland began a new era under Sione Fukofuka with a narrow victory over Wales in the opening round of the Women's Six Nations.
Front rowers Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu crossed in a promising first half for Wales - whose wait for a championship win now extends to six matches - while Chloe Rollie finished off a sleek move for the visitors.
Shona Campbell and Lucia Scott ran in tries for Scotland after a huge momentum shift in the second half, while Wales captain Kate Williams pulled one back to set up a frantic finale.
Rallied by the Principality Stadium crowd, Wales threw the kitchen sink at Scotland as the clock ran close to 90 minutes, but Scotland held on to beat their Celtic rivals for a fifth successive match.
They will now look ahead to next Saturday, when they host reigning champions England at Murrayfield, while Wales welcome France to Cardiff Arms Park.
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Emma Orr led the counter-attack through the midfield before the ball found its way out wide to Rhona Lloyd, who selflessly passed back inside for Rollie to cross.
Wales hit back almost immediately off line-out ball, Kelsey Jones finding Bethan Lewis before joining the back of the rolling maul and dotting down.
It proved a double blow for Scotland with prop Leah Bartlett sent to the sin bin on her 50th appearance for an infringement in the build-up.
Wales took advantage on 20 minutes, with a Gwen Crabb turnover gifting them a promising attacking platform, and while line-out ball was slightly overthrown, Tuipulotu took a clean catch and bulldozed her way through.
Wales then fluffed a couple of promising attacks as the set-piece wobbled, but overall looked a different side to the one which was outmuscled by Scotland at last summer's World Cup, with teenage debutant Jorja Aiono a willing ball-carrier.
Scotland reduced the deficit to two points with a Nelson penalty and looked the more threatening side towards the break, but they threw away a golden opportunity when Lana Skeldon was penalised for dummying a throw into a five-metre line-out.
Scotland retook the lead early in the second half after Wales' backline failed to gather a speculative Nelson kick, with Campbell taking full advantage on her first Scotland appearance since 2022.
But celebrations were soon muted when Orr left the field with a concerning looking injury, her place on the field taken by Evie Wills.
Scotland continued to poke holes in the Welsh defence, with the hosts struggling for a foothold, and matters were made worse when Bryonie King was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on opposite number eight Emily Coubrough.
Scotland's third try was the pick of the bunch, with replacement Scott plucking Meryl Smith's pinpoint kick from the air and effortlessly stepping Kayleigh Powell to put daylight between the scores.
But Wales were not done, as their bench made a telling impact. Donna Rose charged through the defence before Seren Singleton sniped agonisingly close to the line.
Wales recycled well and it was Williams who deservedly crashed over under the posts to set up an easy conversion for Keira Bevan.
With just five points in it, Wales worked the ball out from deep inside their own half, Powell leading the charge, and were given a lifeline with a penalty, but the line-out was fumbled and it was the visitors left celebrating.
While it was a 10th defeat in 11 Test matches for Wales head coach Sean Lynn, there were signs of improvement from the World Cup, especially in the first half, and they leave with what could prove an important losing bonus-point.
Wales: Powell; Singleton, Cox, Keight, Neumann; George; Bevan, G Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Aiono, Crabb, Lewis, Williams (capt), King.
Replacements: Reardon, Davies, Rose, A Pyrs, Evans, Metcalfe, Lockwood, Dallavalle.
Scotland: Rollie: Lloyd, Orr, Smith, Campbell: Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Clarke, Wassell, Cunningham, Malcolm, Stewart, Coubrough.
Replacements: Martin, Swann, Poolman, Bogan, Donaldson, Darroch, Wills, Scott.
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
Assistants: Precious Pazani (ZRU), Alexandra Ferre (FFR)
TMO: Graham Cooper (RA)
FPRO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)
