Halfpenny strikes as Wales beat Scotland

Leigh Halfpenny scored two tries in a second-half surge as Wales made it two wins out of two in this season’s Six Nations with a 27-13 victory over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium yesterday.

The match was level at 3-3 at half-time but tries from wing Alex Cuthbert and full-back Halfpenny, who crossed twice on his way to a match haul of 22 points, saw Wales pull away.

For Scotland, defeat left them searching for a first win in Cardiff since 2002 and facing another battle to avoid the wooden spoon following last weekend’s 13-7 loss to England. But fly-half Greig Laidlaw, in for the retired Dan Parks, did at least score Scotland’s first try in five Tests.

Their cause was not helped by being down to 13 men early in the second half after backs Nick de Luca and Rory Lamont were both sin-binned.

“Yellow cards are always crucial in this day and age so everybody has to work on their discipline,” said Wales flanker Dan Lydiate.

Wales coach Warren Gatland had told his team at half-time “just look after the ball”, Lydiate said.

“Once we go through the phases we know we’re dangerous, but fair play to Scotland they came back into it,” he added.

Standings: Wales, England 4 points; France 2; Scotland, Italy, Ireland 0.