IN an entirely forgettable Six Nations encounter, captains Chris Paterson and Stephen Jones kicked all the points on the board as Scotland claimed victory over Wales.

The hosts outscored the Welsh three penalties to two in an energetic first half but as the game wore on the already low quality dropped further. Rhys Thomas's sinbinning invited the Scots to score but Nathan Hines, Allan Jacobsen and Paterson all fell short.

Paterson's reliable boot built up a lead Wales could never claw back as the game petered out to a tepid conclusion. The opening period was ragged but entertaining, with Paterson notching two early penalties, but serious goal-line threats few and far between.

Neither side held the initiative for long enough to truly dominate the game, but the first sustained attack by either side saw Paterson nearly go over in the left-hand corner before Mark Jones got in the vital tackle.

Stephen Jones bagged two penalties and Paterson completed his treble to give Scotland a narrow interval lead but the restart did not bring any dramatic improvement in quality.

Thomas's sin-binning gave Scotland a temporary advantage and it nearly had an instant impact as Paterson launched a chip-and-chase counter-attack from the halfway line, before being hauled down inches from the line by Stephen Jones.

In the ensuing assault, substitute Hines also fell inches short before Alun-Wyn Jones and Tom Shanklin did superbly to prevent Allan Jacobsen twisting to touch down as he went over the line.

But the line was rarely threatened and the game eventually came down to a straight kicking contest between the two captains, with Paterson having the edge, mainly thanks to Wales' lack of discipline.

SCOTLAND Southwell, Lamont, Di Rollo, Dewey, Paterson, Godman, Cusiter, Kerr, Hall, E. Murray, Hamilton, S. Murray, Taylor, Brown, Callam
WALESMorgan, M Jones, Robinson, Hook, Czekaj, S Jones, Peel, D Jones, R Thomas, A Jones, Sidoli, A Jones, Popham, Williams, R Jones Referee A Lewis (Ireland)