Scotland scrape past plucky Japan in WXV 2

MATCH REPORT: Scotland Women edged Japan Women by 19-13 in Round Two of WXV 2 at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.

Scotland came out of the blocks with a try as soon as the third minute of the match by Francesca McGhie which Helen Nelson converted.

Both sides had ample opportunities to cross the whitewash in the first-half, but failed to capitalise on their chances in the blistering Athlone heat as both teams, especially Japan in the opening 10 minutes showed great fight in defence when under the pump.

Japan finally got themselves on the scoresheet when Otsuka kicked long – attempting a 50/22 when Scotland wing Rhona Lloyd kept the ball in play, but that proved to be costly when Japan got possession back and No.8 Siena Saito barged over for an unconverted try.

Scotland had the final say moments after the half-time siren sounded when they sucked the Japanese defence in and try-scorer McGhie setting up Alex Stewart to extend Scotland’s lead heading into the break by 12-5.

Much like the first-half, Scotland started the second stanza strong – with their scrum getting the better of Japan, but Japan held them out well and forced errors to gain territory and possession – but as the match’s trend went, Japan couldn’t turn their opportunities into points while camping in Soctland’s red-zone.

Japan got a penalty for a deliberate knock-down and opted to take the kick at goal which flyhalf Otsuka slotted to reduce the deficit to four points with 22 minutes to play.

Scotland opted for a lineout after receiving a penalty for a high tackle by Japan and stretched the Japanese defence back and forth to work it to wing Rhona Lloyd which Meryl Smith converted to give Scotland some breathing space in the last 15 minutes of the match.

Japan didn’t give up the fight as Scotland’s discipline gave Japan easy territory gains and that ultimately led to Japan getting an attacking lineout that saw captain Iroha Nagata cross the line to get back within seven points of Scotland with 12 minutes of play left.

Scotland had a couple of opportunities to score the bonus-point try and take the match away from Japan, but Japan’s scramble defence along with Scotland’s ill discipline gave Japan a final shot at stealing the match at the death,but as for much of the match, Japan couldn’t get it over the line thanks to Scotland’s defensive efforts in the final moments of the match as Scotland emerged victors in a tightly contested match.

Scorers

For Japan:
Try: Saito,Nagata
Pen: Otsu

For Scotland:
Tries: McGhie, Stewart, Lloyd
Cons: Nelson, Smith

Teams:

Japan Women: 15 Sora Nishimura, 14 Rinka Matsuda, 13 Mana Furuta, 12 Haruka Hirotsu, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 10 Ayasa Otsuka, 9 Moe Tsukui, 8 Seina Saito, 7 Iroha Nagata (captain), 6 Masami Kawamura, 5 Otoka Yoshimura, 4 Yuna Sato, 3 Wako Kitano, 2 Asuka Kuge, 1 Sachiko Kato.
Replacements: 16 Kotomi Taniguchi, 17 Manami Mine, 18 Nijiho Nagata, 19 Sakurako Korai, 20 Jennifer Nduka, 21 Megumi Abe, 22 Minori Yamamoto, 23 Kanako Kobayashi.

Scotland Women: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Meryl Smith, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Caity Mattinson, 8 Jade Konkel, 7 Alex Stewart, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Louise McMillan, 3 Christine Belisle, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Leah Bartless
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Anne Young, 18 Lisa Cockburn, 19 Eva Donaldson, 20 Evie Gallagher, 21 Leia Brebner-Holden, 22 Emma Orr, 23 Lucia Scott

Referee: Zoe Naude (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy) & Local
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)