SCOTLAND played with far more verve, invention and self-belief against Wales than they did against England a week earlier, yet still ended up with a ninth consecutive defeat in the RBS 6 Nations Championship. They dominated many areas of the match, but their error count was still too high, while Wales themselves were more creative by far than the English had been in their 15-9 win at Murrayfield.

The home team won the try count 3-2, and, while there was a major doubt about the legality of their first try, scored by Gareth Davies, there was no dubiety at all about the power and pace deployed by Jamie Roberts and George North for their second and third. Tommy Seymour and Duncan Taylor were Scotland’s try-scorers, bookending the Welsh touchdowns in a much-improved performance. They were also the team’s most impressive players over the piece, with Seymour having one of his best games for his country and being particularly impressive when dealing with the high ball, while Taylor was excellent in defence.

Vern Cotter’s squad now have a fortnight in which to regroup before they travel to Italy for the third round of fixtures. Their resources have been further stretched by injury in recent days, and as things stand it is uncertain whether Stuart Hogg, who came off injured in the first half, will be available for the trip to Rome.

Matt Scott is another doubt, having been ruled out of this game when he tore a thigh muscle in training during the week, and Sean Maitland was added to the sick list after injuring a hamstring on Friday, also in training. Sean Lamont came off the bench to replace Maitland in the No 14 jersey, and Ruaridh Jackson joined the substitutes.

Wales took the lead after seven minutes when Davies, their scrum-half, seized on a loose ball around halfway and raced clear to the line. The score went to the TMO, to reassess Davies’ position when Roberts knocked back a Dan Biggar chip. But, while the No 9 looked to be ahead of the kicker and thus offside, the score was given. Biggar converted to give the home team a 7-0 lead.

Scotland hit back to level five minutes later with an excellent move. The forwards drove on through the middle, aided by swift recycling from Greig Laidlaw, and when Finn Russell chipped to the right corner Seymour gathered and touched down. Laidlaw converted from out on the touchline.

The visitors might have had a second try 10 minutes later when John Barclay broke clear from his own half, but the flanker kicked ahead for Mark Bennett to chase instead of passing inside to Hogg, who had set off on a good supporting line. The kick went out and the chance was lost, and the full-back went off injured shortly after that and was replaced by Jackson.

On the half-hour, Scotland were awarded a penalty a few metres inside the Welsh half after John Hardie had won the ball on the deck and Justin Tipuric did not roll away in the tackle. Laidlaw’s aim was true, taking the score to 7-10.

Wales were level minutes later, however, after being given a penalty for a scrum offence, Biggar scoring from nearly 40 metres out. But Laidlaw restored Scotland’s lead from a penalty with the last kick of the half, awarded after Samson Lee had offended on the deck. Biggar equalised for 13-each with another penalty five minutes into the second half, but it was not long before the Scots scrum won a penalty on the edge of the Welsh 22, and Laidlaw made no mistake to put his team back in the lead.

At the end of the third quarter, Tom James broke clear after picking up a ball dropped by John Hardie, and the wing looked certain to score. But Taylor got across to put in an excellent tackle, and although Wales retrieved possession, their switch to the right came to nothing.

They were not so wasteful with 15 minutes to play, however. Phase after phase took the ball closer to the Scots line, and when Wales were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, captain Sam Warburton opted for the scrum. Several phases later Roberts did what he does best, crashing over from a few metres out. Biggar converted, and Wales were 20-16 up.

With eight minutes left, George North made sure of the victory with his team’s third try, bursting through on a looping run from just outside the Scotland 22. Biggar converted to make it 27-16.

Roberts and North might have expected to get more ball, and find more space, in the closing stages, but instead Scotland refused to let their heads go down and finished strongly. Two minutes from time Taylor pulled a try back, going alone through the Welsh 22. Duncan Weir goaled to take Scotland to within four points, but the chance for a last-gasp attack from the restart ended with a knock-on deep in blue territory.

WALES: Tries: G Davies, Roberts, North. Cons: Biggar 3. Pens : Biggar 2.

SCOTLAND: Tries: Seymour, Taylor. Cons: Laidlaw, Weir. Pens: Laidlaw 3.

Wales: L Williams; G North, J Davies, J Roberts, T James (G Anscombe 66; D Biggar (R Priestland 76), G Davies; R Evans (G Jenkins 48), S Baldwin (K Owens 48), S Lee (T Francis 69), L Charteris (B Davies 48), A Wyn Jones, S Warburton, J Tipuric (D Lydiate 62), T Faletau. Unused substitute: L Williams.

Scotland: S Hogg (R Jackson 29); S Lamont, M Bennett, D Taylor, T Seymour; F Russell (D Weir 69), G Laidlaw (S Hidalgo-Clyne 78); A Dickinson ( G Reid 66), R Ford (S McInally 66), W Nel, R Gray, J Gray (T Swinson 69), J Barclay (B Cowan 66), J Hardie, D Denton. Unused substitute: Z Fagerson.

Referee: G Clancy.