TOTAL heartbreak for Scotland as they looked on course for their first win of this season's Six Nations only to concede a try a minute past full time to have victory snatched from their grasp.

Scotland needed to recover the kick-off after their third try and play the game out in the opposition half but instead knocked on and found themselves under huge pressure for the final minutes until Siwan Lillicrap, the No.8, powered over to level the scores leaving Lleucu George, the centre, to win the match with the conversion.

It leaves the Scots facing the near-impossible task of beating England at Twickenham next week to avoid a whitewash in this season's tournament, though they could take some consolation from improvements in their performance and wining the try count three-two.

With a strong wind howling down the pitch, blowing the rain into Scottish faces in the first half, the first half was all about damage limitation but turned out to be even better than that as Scotland lifted the siege long enough for Jade Konkel, the No8, to power her way over from short range to hand her side an early lead.

It was never likely to last against the combined assault from the Welsh and elements. Robyn Wilkins, the fly half, landed a penalty to get the visitors on the scoreboard before flanker Bethan Lewis set up another attack and finished it herself at the back of a line out maul.

With Wilkins adding the conversion, they had their noses in front until Scotland again broke clear and Sarah Bonar, the lock, broke from the back of a ruck to go over to level the scores.

Rock-solid Scots defence kept their line intact against everything the Welsh could throw at them before they worked their way upfield with time beginning to run out.

When it came, the the go-ahead try was worthy of earning a win with Hannah Smith, the centre, finding space to round her opposite number and send Chloe Rollie, the full back, in for the score but they lacked the composure to see the game out.

Scotland: Tries: Konkell (7), Bonar (19), Rollie (73).

Wales: Try: Lewis (16), Lillicrap (80+1). Cons: Wilkins, George. Pen: Wilkins (11)

Scoring sequence (Scotland first): 5-0, 5-3, 5-10, 10-10 (half time), 15-10, 15-17.

Scotland: C Rollie (Lille), R Lloyd (Loughborough Lighning), H Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), L Thomson (C) (DMP Sharks), A Sergeant (Heriot’s, A Evans, Hillhead Jordanhill, 71); H Nelson (Montpellier, L Martin, Lille, 55), M Grieve (Waterloo, J Maxwell, Loughborough Lightning, 55); M Kennedy (Stirling County), L Skeldon (Watsonians), M Forsyth (Stirling County, L Cockburn, DMP Sharks, 59), E Wassell (Heriot’s), S Bonar (Loughborough Lightning), R Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, J Rettie, Saracens, 55), R McLachlan (Stirling County), J Konkel (Harlequins).

Wales: L Smyth (Ospreys); J Joyce (Scarlets), H Jones (Scarlets), L George (Scarlets), J Kavanagh (RGC); R Wilkins (Blues, E Snowsill, Bristol Bears, 55), K Bevan (Ospreys, F Lewis, Scarlets, 55); C Thomas (Dragons), C Phillips (C) (Ospreys), A Evans (Ospreys), G Crabb (Ospreys, A Butchers, Scarlets, 69), M Clay (Ospreys), A Callender (Scarlets, M Johnes, Cardiff Blues, 53), B Lewis (Dragons), S Lillicrap (Ospreys, A Butchers, Scarlets, 57-65)

Referee: B Benvenuti (Italy)

Attendance: 2,024