WALES 52 SCOTLAND 30
IAN GOLDEN, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Thursday

JODIE BOYD-WARD celebrated her final international match by captaining Wales to a hard-fought win to claim fifth place.

Dangerman Calum Davidson scored in the corner to give Scotland a fifth-minute lead, but it didn’t take long for Wales to hit back through a Stuart Williams double, with both tries improved by Sid Ramsey.

They soon extended their lead to 22-4, with player of the match Fionn McCabe brilliantly picking up a high loose ball to score, with Higgins converting. John Berriman was the next to touch down.

Scotland though came back. 

Dave Hill scored in the corner on 31 minutes before Aaran King was denied what seemed a certain try by the bravery of 16-year-old McCabe, who put himself in the way of the Scot.

But after Wales were awarded a penalty when Berriman was floored, Higgins went in under the sticks and converted his own try as they ended a brutal first half 28-10 in front.

It didn’t take long for Wales to add to their lead after the break, with Higgins cruising through for a try that he converted.

Two King tries, both improved by Davidson, saw Scotland cut the deficit, only for Williams and McCabe to both go over again, with Higgins kicking both.

Then Mark Williams celebrated his record-equalling 46th Welsh cap with a try in the corner that Higgins improved to take the score past the half-century.

Hamish Douglas and Calum Japes scored late consolation tries for Scotland, but the day belonged to Wales.

WALES: 11 John Berriman, 1 Sid Ramsey, 7 Stuart Williams, 5 Jodie Boyd-Ward, 2 Fionn McCabe. Subs (all used): 4 Andrew Higgins, 6 Jonathan Gill, 10 Mark Williams.

Tries: S Williams (8, 14, 58), McCabe (24, 63), Berriman (26), Higgins (39, 44), M Williams (71); Goals: Ramsey 2/2, Higgins 6/7

SCOTLAND: 1 Calum Davidson, 6 Max Owen, 3 James Simpson-Hill, 4 Dave Hill, 5 Olivia Fulton: Subs (all used): 2 Arran King, 8 Hamish Douglas, 9 Calum Japes.

Tries: Davidson (5), Hill (31), King (48, 53), Douglas (76), Japes (78); Goals: Davidson 3/4, Fulton 0/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 6-4, 12-4, 18-4, 22-4, 22-10, 28-10, 34-10, 34-16, 34-22, 40-22, 46-22, 52-22, 52-26, 52-30

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
Wales: Ffion McCabe; Scotland: Calum Davidson

Penalty count: 6-2; Half-time: 28-10; Referees: Karli Wilkinson and Luke Anderson; Attendance: 200