AN 11th defeat in a row for Scotland in all competitions, and this time, unlike recent meetings with Wales, there was not even the consolation of a losing bonus point.

But there could have been. It was only in the last minute of the match that the Welsh denied their hosts that. And in fact for a time in the second half, when Scotland closed to within two points, there was even the prospect of something better than gallant defeat.

In the end, though, Bryan Easson’s side were second best to a Wales side who were slicker, more composed and more clinical – and perhaps, after last week’s convincing win over Ireland, more confident too. Even so, the head coach was able to take some encouragement from his team’s performance.

“I thought some of the performances were outstanding,” he said.

“It’s a new side, there’s a lot of youngsters in there, and we’re gaining experience every time. Up until the last play of the game there was a score in it. It could have gone either way. A lot to be proud of there.”

Wales went into an early lead when Sisilia Tuipulotu powered over from close range after a penalty had been sent to touch. It was an inauspicious start for the home side, and things seemed to have got worse after quarter-of-an-hour when Sioned Harries touched down after a siege on the Scots line, but the score was chalked off for offside.

Helen Nelson got Scotland off the mark with a penalty, but Wales continued to pose more of a threat in open play, and after a break from deep by Harries was continued by Keira Bevan, Gwen Pyrs dotted down for their second try. Bevan was on target to add the two points.

Scotland needed to hit back before half time if the game was not going to get away from them, and they did when, after a penalty to touch, Lana Skeldon finished off from the maul. Nelson added an excellent conversion from close to the right touchline.

Scotland continued to press in search of the score that would put them in front for the first time, and Welsh centre Kerin Lake was yellow-carded for a team offence. But although Christine Belisle and Skeldon both came close, the breakthrough did not come.

The key issue at the start of the second half was how well Scotland would exploit their numerical advantage. Not at all, it transpired. Wales attacked right from kick-off, showing the confidence to go through the phases and get closer and closer to the home line. Once they were within a metre, all they needed was one of their big ball-carriers to finish off, and Pyrs was on hand to perform the task.

Bevan’s conversion stretched the lead back out to nine points, and the game was again perilously close to slipping out of Scotland’s reach.

But, with Lake still off the pitch, there was an immediate response. A scrum on the Welsh five-metre line produced clean ball, Caity Mattinson combined with Emma Orr and Nelson, and then winger Coreen Grant came into midfield to finish off. Nelson’s conversion made it a two-point game again.

Wales responded quickly, and after another patient build-up Tuipulotu scored the bonus-point try from close range, but it was unconverted this time.

Scotland began to play more patiently than they had been doing, and eventually benefited when Chloe Rollie glided through the last two defenders on the left to touch down close to the touchline. Nelson’s conversion, which would have tied the game, went just wide.

With the match still in the balance, Elinor Snowsill gave her team a little more breathing space with a penalty after the home defence had strayed offside. Then inside the final two minutes, substitute Ffion Lewis exploited a gap in a tiring defence to score from the base of a scrum and deny Scotland the losing bonus. Snowsill converted.

Meanwhile Ireland suffered a second straight defeat after being thrashed 53-3 by France.

The Irish needed a big performance following their opening weekend loss against Wales, but were torn apart by France – who easily made it two wins from two and ran in nine tries despite having Annaelle Deshaye sent off early on.

Audrey Forlani found the opening try nine minutes in and they quickly earned their second five minutes later when Caroline Boujard touched down.

Deshaye was shown a red card for a high tackle in the 20th minute and Ireland put their first points on the board from the resulting penalty, but France then added their third try through Pauline Bourdon.

Bourdon quickly scored a second to secure the bonus point, with Gabrielle Vernier adding the gloss.

Agathe Sochat extended the lead before Cyrielle Banet went over, while Vernier earned her second before Charlotte Escudero finished off a dominant afternoon.