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Two tries from captain Kate Zackary led the USA Falcons XV to a 31-23 win over Wales in a friendly contest at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday. The match was organized as a warm-up for the Welsh women ahead of their Six Nations campaign and featured 20 overseas-based USA players.
The home side got on the board early when Alisha Butchers stole a lineout and ran straight ahead to score the first try. Robyn Wilkins couldn’t convert but she would add a penalty goal after 15 minutes of parity to stretch the Welsh lead to 8-nil.
A second try to Wales went to Hannah Jones, who cut through to touch down under the posts for the easy Wilkins conversion. An immediate reply came from the Falcons as Hope Rogers went over with Alev Kelter adding the extras.
Alycia Washington would score on the stroke of halftime and though the conversion was off-target, the USA had closed the gap to just three points at 15-12. Wales would make nine changes at the intermission with more coming in the second half.
Lleucu George hit a penalty goal early after the restart but Zackary struck soon after with her first try. Kelter’s conversion gave the USA their first lead of the match.
An explosion of three tries in five minutes wrapped up the scoring. Donna Rose went over from close range for Wales, but the USA responded first with Kelter who touched down in the corner. Megan Foster nailed the sideline conversion, and Zackary went over for her double to secure the win.
Both teams will be competing at the World Cup in October. 11th-ranked Wales will compete in Pool A alongside Australia, Scotland, and hosts New Zealand. The USA are currently ranked 6th and are in Pool B with Italy, Japan, and North American rivals Canada.
SCORING
WALES 23
Tries – A. Butchers, H. Jones, D. Rose
Cons – R. Wilkins
Pens – R. Wilkins, L. George
USA 31
Tries – H. Rogers, A. Washington, K. Zackary 2, A. Kelter
Cons – A. Kelter 2, M. Foster
TEAMS
WALES
1 Gwenllian Pyrs, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Cerys Hale, 4 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Alisha Butchers, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Siwan Lillicrap (capt.), 9 Keira Bevan, 10 Robyn Wilkins, 11 Jasmine Joyce, 12 Kerin Lake, 13 Hannah Jones, 14 Lisa Neumann, 15 Kayleigh Powell
Replacements: Cara Hope, Kat Evans, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Jenni Scoble, Natalia John, Liliana Podpadec, Beth Lewis, Manon Johnes, Sioned Harries, Ffion Lewis, Lleucu George, Flo Williams, Caitlin Lewis, Emma Hennessy, Gemma Rowland, Lowri Norkett
USA FALCONS XV
1 Hope Rogers, 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Nick James, 4 Alycia Washington, 5 Kristine Sommer, 6 Hallie Taufo’ou, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 8 Kate Zackary (capt.), 9 Carly Waters, 10 Katana Howard, 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Alev Kelter, 13 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Jennine Detiveaux, 15 Tess Feury
Replacements: 16 Allie Schrenker, 17 Catie Benson, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Maya Learned, 20 Jenny Kronish, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Megan Foster
