European Championship: Danny Brough inspires Scotland to a win over Wales

A Danny Brough-inspired Scotland made an impressive start to their European Championship campaign with a 42-18 win over an inexperienced Wales in Workington.

The 2013 Man of Steel picked up from where he left off in the World Cup as he masterminded an eight-try triumph on the Bravehearts' return to Derwent Park, where a crowd of 2,036 braved the wind and rain to witness the opening match of a tournament which guarantees the winners a place alongside England, Australia and New Zealand in the 2016 Four Nations Series.

Brough, one of six Super League players in the Scotland ranks, scored a try and kicked five goals while Oscar Thomas and Corby Kilday scored tries on their international debuts.

New Wales coach John Kear was forced to field a team full of part-timers, including eight debutants, for his first match in charge but will be encouraged by their battling spirit, epitomised by impressive teenager Connor Farrer, who scored two of their four tries.

The Welsh only trailed 16-14 early in the second half but the Scots, playing their first game since their World Cup quarter-final defeat by New Zealand in November, demonstrated their class to pull clear.

London Broncos-bound winger Rhys Williams, Wales' record try-scorer, had an early score disallowed for a forward pass but was not denied on nine minutes when he latched onto captain Peter Lupton's kick to the corner to open the scoring with his 14th try in 16 appearances.

Key roles

Brough was content to play his way into the game but made his presence tell with a solo try on 11 minutes to level the scores before playing key roles in the build-up to tries for full-back Thomas and second rower Kilday as the Bravehearts surged into a 16-4 lead.

The Scots, who had prop Jonny Walker put on report for a high tackle on Morgan Evans, lost their way towards the end of the first half and were punished for conceding three successive penalties when veteran Welsh centre Christian Roets powered his way over for his 12th international try two minutes before half-time.

The lead was down to just two points three minutes into the second half when the lively Farrer followed up a Lupton grubber kick to score a second try and Lewis Reece kicked Wales' only goal of the match.

Scotland's response was swift and decisive as they hit their visitors with three tries in five minutes to re-assert their dominance.

Jonny Walker and substitute hooker Callum Phillips both forced their way over from close range while winger David Scott followed up a towering Brough kick that caused mayhem in the Wales defence.

Scott then took Thomas' pass to score his second try and Brough carved out a score for second rower Brett Phillips before Farrer had the final say with his second try five minutes from the end.