Six Nations - Scotland 6 Wales 24:Record try scorer Shane Williams scored twice as Wales revived their Six Nations campaign with a 24-6 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield, only their fourth win in the Scottish capital in 26 years.
Scotland proved a shadow of the side that scored three converted tries against France in Paris last weekend, never recovering from a 16-0 deficit midway through the first half.
Even when Wales were reduced to 13 men for six minutes after lock Bradley Davies and fullback Lee Byrne both received yellow cards, the Scots did not seriously threaten.
Wing Williams’ try double and 14 points from outhalf James Hook - making his first Test match appearance in the number 10 shirt since 2009 - saw Wales home.
It was their first win in nine games stretching back to last summer, and kept alive hopes of championship success, but Scotland have now lost two from two this season and could end up in a battle with Italy to avoid the wooden spoon.
Coach Andy Robinson cut a frustrated figure as a mistake-riddled Scottish performance underlined their chronic lack of consistency, with only two Dan Parks penalties to show for their efforts.
Wales, desperate for a victory of any proportions, did not hit top gear, but the confident Hook ensured they kept the lead throughout to give coach Warren Gatland an overdue success.
Wales’ had not won a Six Nations away game by such a margin since they crushed Scotland 46-22 in Edinburgh six years ago on their way to a Grand Slam.
They were good value though, and it is a case of back to the drawing board for Scotland after arguably their worst performance of Robinson’s reign, which came just three days after he signed a contract extension to incorporate the 2015 World Cup.
Wales knew their lingering hopes of Six Nations silverware would disappear without trace if they failed to overcome the Scots, and a whirlwind start was rewarded with an eighth-minute try.
Scotland, as if affected by lock Richie Gray’s late withdrawal through illness, struggled to impose themselves before Wales prospered from their first attack.
Forwards Ryan Jones and Alun-Wyn Jones played prominent roles in the build-up before Hook glided into space and sent Williams over for his 52nd Test touchdown.
Hook’s confident start continued as he added the conversion and then slotted an angled 14th-minute penalty, leaving Scotland with plenty to ponder at 10-0 adrift little more than halfway through the opening quarter.
Scotland were at sixes and sevens, offering nothing as an attacking force, proving hesitant in defence and conceding far too many penalties at the breakdown.
The Scots continued to stretch referee George Clancy’s patience, and two more Hook penalties took Wales 16-0 ahead before the home side finally stirred.
Their first raid into Wales’ 22 resulted in Davies being sin-binned for deliberate offside, but Clancy had not finished with the yellow cards.
Byrne was next to go when assistant referee Romain Poite recommended yellow for a high tackle on Scotland wing Max Evans, and it meant Wales were two men down.
Scotland though, could score just three points before Davies returned - Parks finding his range from 35 metres out - as Wales threw the proverbial kitchen sink at their opponents in defence.
Wales knew it was simply a case of hanging on, but they were helped by the Scots repeatedly taking wrong options and being guilty of poor handling.
Scotland predictably enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, yet Wales held a 16-3 lead when Byrne went back on, meaning their opponents still had a mountain to climb, having failed to prosper from a significant numerical advantage.
Clancy then issued a warning to Scotland skipper Ali Kellock and Ryan Jones following a prolonged skirmish, and the home side’s miserable first half was summed up when Parks slipped as he attempted a long-range penalty and the ball landed way short.
Mike Phillips epitomised a fired-up Wales side with a crunching tackle on Scotland prop Allan Jacobsen, and although Hook then drifted a 48-metre penalty chance narrowly wide, Scotland continued to make little impact.
Robinson sent on prop Moray Low for Euan Murray and replaced scrum-half Rory Lawson with Mike Blair early in the second period, and Blair’s arrival provided greater urgency around the fringes.
It was the cue for a sustained spell of Scottish pressure, yet Parks wasted such good work through an aimless kick to the corner that Williams easily dealt with.
A second Parks penalty reduced Scotland’s deficit to 10 points approaching the final quarter, but the mistakes were never far away, underlined when flanker John Barclay spilled possession in open play.
Barclay’s blunder almost saw Scotland pay a hefty price, as Wales centre Jamie Roberts stormed through in midfield, but substitute Sean Lamont had just enough pace to complete a try-saving tackle.
Another Hook penalty meant Wales were 13 points clear, and Gatland could then finally relax when Williams pocketed his second try following centre Jonathan Davies’ well-judged kick.
