Scotland narrowly beats Māori All Blacks 29-26 in Pacific tour opener

Scotland secured a narrow 29-26 victory over the Māori All Blacks in Whangarei, kicking off their Pacific tour with a hard-fought win. The hosts started strong with an early try by Sam Nock within 40 seconds, but Scotland responded with tries from Harry Paterson, George Horne, and Arron Reed, capitalizing on two yellow cards against the Māori side. Despite being reduced to 14 men at times and conceding multiple penalties late in the game, Scotland held on amid relentless pressure, defending multiple phases in the closing minutes to secure their first-ever win over the Māori All Blacks. The match featured intense physicality and skill, including multiple turnovers, sin-bins, and a thrilling finish with Scotland winning a crucial turnover in the 86th minute. Scotland now looks ahead to test matches against Fiji and Samoa, building confidence from this tightly contested opener. The game was marked by strong international experience on Scotland's part and a spirited comeback attempt by the Māori All Blacks, making for a pulsating contest.