In a similar vein to the performances of both the Wales U20 and Warren Gatland’s senior side, who eventually came away with convincing wins earlier this weekend, points were hard to come by in the first half with the female Italian outfit proving a tough nut to crack.
Despite an early Non Evans penalty, Italy enjoyed a good deal of possession and territory in the first half and were first to cross the try line courtesy of a pushover score from flanker Giuliana Campanella. Centre Veronica Sciavon failed to convert and Wales were quick to re-take the lead. Left wing Lou Rickard, who is rapidly closing in on Gareth Thomas’s Wales cap record – this was her 98th cap – ran in from 10 metres.
Despite some enterprising play, a combination of careless errors and good Italian defence prevented Wales from scoring again before the break but Mellissa Berry’s side at least managed to keep Italy out to go in at the break with a three point advantage.
Wales came out after the interval with some extra vim and vigour and a Non Evans break three minutes into play created enough space for speedster Hayley Baxter to score a try. Evans duly converted.
Italian ill-discipline meant they were a player down for 20 minutes of the second half, with first Campanella then hooker Elisa Cucchiella being sent to the cooler.
Rachel Poolman enjoyed a successful first outing at outside half after switching with Naomi Thomas at outside centre, capping her performance with a stunning solo try. After working a gap in the centre of the field, Poolman dummied and ran 20 metres to the try line, with Evans adding the extras. In the dying minutes, it was centre Clare Flowers’s turn to show a clean pair of heels to finish with a flourish.
Wales Women travel to Dublin in two weeks time with everything to play for in this Six Nations Championship.
Captain Mellissa Berry said: “We are developing as a team all the time during this Six Nations championship. We needed to score some tries and despite making hard work of the first half, once we started moving the ball out wide, we showed what we are capable of.
“We are a young team full of talented players so it’s good to get another win under our belts to enable us to carry on building as a team as we prepare for the Irish match. Ireland certainly won’t be easy but if we can get a win, we will play France here at Taffs Well on the final day for a top two position.”
Scorers:
Wales
Tries: L Rickard, H Baxter, R Poolman, C Flowers
Cons: N Evans (2)
Pen: N Evans
Italy
Try: G Campenella
Wales Women: Non Evans (Clifton); Louise Rickard (Woodbridge), Naomi Thomas (Clifton), Clare Flowers (Clifton), Hayley Baxter (Cardiff Quins); Rachel Poolman (UWIC), Amy Day (UWIC) (Laura Prosser Pontyclun 71); Jenny Davies (Waterloo), Rhian Bowden (Clifton), Claire Horgan (Lichfield) (L Horgan Saracens 40), Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun), Claire Donovan (Saracens) (Rachel Taylor Cardiff Quins 70), Jenny Doyle (Bath Ladies) (Jamie Kift Clifton 40), Catrina Nicholas (Bath Ladies), Mel Berry (Capt, Clifton)
