WALES are up and running in the Six Nations after keeping their superb winning streak over Scotland going with a hard-earned success at Murrayfield.

Super tries in either half by scrum-half Rhys Webb and Jonathan Davies secured the spoils for Warren Gatland’s men along with determined defence on their line in the closing stages.

It was far from a perfect performance – and the set piece remains a worry ahead of the trip to Paris – but it was just the tonic after the opening day disappointment against England.

There was more spark in attack, the power runners got into the game, there was more energy and Gethin Jenkins responded with a world-class display in the loose.

It may be pushing it to say that Wales are right back in the mix for the title but it was a determined display to ease the nerves in World Cup year.

Wales, who have never lost to Scotland under Gatland, made a bright start, carrying with purpose and were good value for a 3-0 lead courtesy of a Leigh Halfpenny penalty.

But their hard work was spoiled in the tenth minute when wing Alex Cuthbert was isolated and a turnover resulted in Scottish full-back Stuart Hogg racing over from 60 metres.

Scrum-half Greig Laidlaw converted and then traded penalties with Halfpenny but there was little flow to the game in a subdued atmosphere.

But the hosts had to play the final 10 minutes of the half down to 14 men after fly-half Finn Russell clumsily took out opposite number Dan Biggar when the Wales man claimed his own up and under, Halfpenny also punishing the offence to make it 10-9.

And Wales were in front in the 34th minute thanks to a stunning counter attack that started inside their 22 and ended with scrum-half Rhys Webb crossing after super work by lock Alun Wyn Jones and wing Liam Williams.

Halfpenny expertly converted from the left but the visitors’ progress was stalled when centre Jonathan Davies was harshly yellow-carded for brushing number eight Johnnie Beattie in the air.

And it took some desperate defence to retain the advantage heading into the changing rooms, first stopping a driving lineout and then, with Gethin Jenkins and Halfpenny to the fore, denying Hogg, centre Alex Dunbar and Laidlaw.

The Scots struck first after the resumption through Laidlaw, punishing Wales for running stolen lineout ball from their own 22 rather than putting boot to ball after Jamie Roberts was pinged for holding on.

But the big inside centre was more effective just minutes later when his powerful charge into the Scots’ 22 set up another Halfpenny penalty to make it 19-13 with half an hour left.

A daft penalty by lock Jake Ball, tackling Johnnie Beattie off the ball, allowed Laidlaw to inch the hosts within three points in the 54th minute before Wales were denied a key score approaching the hour.

Webb put wing Williams over down the left flank only for the effort to be chalked off because of obstruction by locks Ball and Jones.

Halfpenny then missed a long-range penalty and one feared that they would rue failing to make their dominance count.

However, Davies applied the crucial blow with 15 minutes left when he wriggled out of Matt Scott’s tackle before outfoxing Hogg with a cracking dummy.

Halfpenny added the routine conversion for a 26-16 lead and Scotland, who had been starved of the ball, were right up against it.

But back they came and it took another sterling goalline stand to keep out an increasingly desperate attack with captain Sam Warburton securing the exit by winning an invaluable penalty at the contact area.

And Gatland’s men had another narrow escape with five minutes left when centre Mark Bennett’s try was chalked off for a knock-on.

The pressure finally paid off when replacement prop Jon Welsh barged over in the last minute but Russell dithered over the conversion and time expired, leaving Wales to toast a hard-earned success.

Scotland: S Hogg, S Lamont, M Bennett, A Dunbar (M Scott 58), T Visser, F Russell, G Laidlaw (captain, S Hidalgo-Clyne 71), A Dickinson (G Reid 61-64), R Ford (F Brown 71), G Cross (J Welsh 50), R Gray (J Hamilton 56), J Gray, R Harley, B Cowan, J Beattie (A Strokosch 58).

Scorers: tries – S Hogg, J Welsh; conversions – G Laidlaw, F Russell; penalties – G Laidlaw (3)

Yellow card: F Russell

Wales: L Halfpenny, A Cuthbert, J Davies, J Roberts, L Williams, D Biggar, R Webb (M Phillips 74), G Jenkins (P James 71), R Hibbard (S Baldwin 60), A Jarvis (S Andrews 60), J Ball (L Charteris 60), A W Jones, D Lydiate (J Tipuric 61), S Warburton (captain), T Faletau.

Scorers: tries – R Webb, J Davies; conversions – L Halfpenny (2); penalties – L Halfpenny (4)

Yellow card: J Davies

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Argus star man: Gethin Jenkins