Though billed as a dead rubber with regards the destiny of the Lloyds TSB Six Nations trophy, Wales and Scotland put on a firework display of rugby to silence the doubters in a highly dramatic match.
After suffering a defeat at the hands of England two weeks previously, Wales started the game with an intense determination. Displaying this intent, Neil Jenkins dropped a goal on 46 seconds and though Scotland had the first chance of a penalty score, Kenny Logan frittered the opportunity away and pushed the penalty awry. It was to prove an agonising afternoon for the Scottish kicker.
The metronomic Neil Jenkins succeeded where Logan had failed, though the Scot did find the posts to redress the scores soon afterwards. Although Andy Moore prevented an almost certain Welsh score by not offloading to the man in space Dafydd James, Jenkins kept the Welsh scores ticking over with another drop goal and a later penalty.
Scotland were reduced to fourteen men after the 7ft lock Richard Metcalfe was sin-binned, leading to a Scottish rally in which they almost scored a try through Logan. He was stopped short by speedy wing Mark Jones but Logan did secure his second penalty of the afternoon. Chris Paterson also missed a try-scoring opportunity before the break, ensuring that his team entered the dressing room 18-6 in deficit.
The match came into its own on the resumption with two superb tries marking the start of the excitement. A long and ineffectual Scottish pass was intercepted by Mark Taylor who raced to the line for a converted try that took Wales into a commanding 25-6 lead.
Not letting the visitors have it all their own way, Scotland replied with a superb effort and subsequent score from Chris Paterson. Logan found his aim successful with the conversion and as he also secured a penalty, the home side had closed the gap to nine points with twenty minutes remaining.
Kicking machine Jenkins sailed the oval through the uprights with twelve minutes to play, seemingly ending Scottish hopes of a positive result but they launched a resurgence in the closing minutes of the game. A pass from Duncan Hodge sent the ball to James McClaren who crossed the Welsh line, Logan crucially missing the conversion and leaving the team trailing Wales by a converted score.
With three minutes remaining Scottish prop Tom Smith amazingly powered to the Welsh line, beating pacy winger Jones, to reduce the gap to just two points. Hodge, having taken over from the ineffective Logan, secured the equalising conversion.
A thrilling finale with the drama outweighing that enacted in the London West End, the Edinburgh crowd had been treated to a spectacle, though Wales would rue the fact they had succumbed to a draw when they had once led by a vast nineteen points.
