Wales forwards overpower USA in Colwyn Bay

Wales earned a first-ever test win over the USA in decisive fashion with the final score at Parc Eirias reading 38-18 to the home side. Rain fell throughout and made handling difficult, which played straight into the hands of a dominant Welsh set piece who outmuscled their guests from start to finish.

It was a rough start for the Eagles. The Welsh scrum won a penalty, and then a pair of handling errors conceded another attacking put-in. Freda Tafuna stopped the charge from Bethan Lewis, but it was only a stay of execution as Alisha Butchers barged over from close range soon after for the opening try. Keira Bevan’s conversion from wide out found its mark to make it a full seven.

A response via the boot of Gabby Cantorna, as Wales were unable to clear their lines after the restart. Within moments, however, the Eagles were back under pressure with their scrum going backwards at a rate of knots. Kerin Lake carried two defenders over the line but was unable to secure the grounding. Wales were on advantage and from the subsequent scrum Bevan broke and dove over for a second try, the halfback converting her own to make it 14-3.

Bevan had a chance to stretch the lead from nearly straight in front but sliced her penalty attempt badly and the flags stayed down. Tafuna then found herself in trouble for a high tackle on Gwenllian Pyrs. The Welsh prop went off for a head check and the Eagles flanker trudged to the sin bin.

Despite the challenging conditions Wales looked to spread the ball wide, and their phase play kept the USA pinned in their end. Two clearance attempts missed touch and after probing the left side with a cross-kick, Robyn Wilkins directed play to the right side where Jaz Joyce connected with Lisa Neumann to send the winger into the corner. Bevan’s kick was wide but it was now a commanding 19-3 lead to the home side at the break.

A try early in the second half gave come confidence back to the visitors. Georgie Parris-Redding fended and spun her way upfield down the left side. Three quick phases later and Eti Haungatau attacked the short side, dragging in the defense and offloading to Sarah Levy in space for the finish.

For 10 minutes the Eagles held on but again the set piece was their undoing. First it was a dominant scrum, and from the resulting lineout the drive was unstoppable. The pack advanced so quickly it was the lineout ripper, Alex Callender, who grounded the ball before it was even transferred to the back of the maul. Bevan chipped over the extras to make it an 18-point gap.

Tafuna redeemed her earlier indiscretion with a charging run up the middle to put the Eagles on the front foot. Phase play led to a penalty, and the decision was to kick for the corner. Wales held out the shove but Tafuna was too strong from a meter out and crashed over for the second American try just short of the hour mark.

There would be no coming back for the Eagles. Successive line breaks from Lleucu George and Neumann on an angle led to a second try for Callender under the posts. As Bevan converted the officials reviewed an earlier reckless challenge by Haungatau on a bent-over Wilkins and after initially considering red, it was decided a yellow card was the appropriate sanction.

Both sides would score tries in the dying minutes of the match. Donna Rose was binned for collapsing a USA maul, and from the following lineout Paige Stathopoulos was driven over for a try on debut. The final say went to Wales, however, with Sioned Harries getting the credit after the pack once again showed their strength with their own successful lineout drive.

For both teams it’s now on to the inaugural WXV tournament, albeit in different divisions. Wales travel to New Zealand to compete in the top tier against Canada, Australia, and the hosting Black Ferns. The Eagles will be in South Africa for second tier tests against Samoa, Scotland, and Italy.

 

SCORING

WALES 38
Tries (6) – A. Butchers (6′), K. Bevan (23′), L. Neumann (37′), A. Callender 2 (52′, 72′), S. Harries (80′)
Cons (4) – K. Bevan 4/5 (7′, 24′, 53′, 73′), L. George 0/1
Pens (0) – K. Bevan 0/1
YC (1) – D. Rose (75′)

USA 18
Tries (3) – S. Levy (41′), F. Tafuna (59′), P. Stathopoulos (77′)
Cons (0) – G. Cantorna 0/2, T. Feury 0/1
Pens (1) – G. Cantorna 1/1 (12′)
YC (2) – F. Tafuna (31′), E. Haungatau (73′)

 

TEAMS

WALES
1 Gwenllian Pyrs (17 Abbey Constable 31′-HT, 53′), 2 Carys Phillips (16 Kelsey Jones 53′), 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu (18 Donna Rose 53′), 4 Abbie Fleming, 5 Georgia Evans (19 Kate Williams 68′), 6 Alisha Butchers, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Bethan Lewis (20 Sioned Harries 53′), 9 Keira Bevan (21 Meg Davies 73′), 10 Robyn Wilkins (23 Nel Metcalfe 73′), 11 Carys Cox, 12 Kerin Lake (22 Lleucu George 68′), 13 Hannah Jones (capt.), 14 Lisa Neumann, 15 Jasmine Joyce

USA
1 Catie Benson (17 Mona Tupou 65′), 2 Kathryn Treder (16 Paige Stathopoulos 68′), 3 Mae Sagapolu (18 Charli Jacoby HT), 4 Hallie Taufo’ou (19 Erica Jarrell 32′), 5 Rachel Ehrecke, 6 Freda Tafuna (7 Georgie Perris-Redding 73′), 7 Georgie Perris-Redding (20 Tahlia Brody 55′), 8 Rachel Johnson, 9 Carly Waters (21 Taina Tukuafu 55′), 10 Gabby Cantorna (22 Meya Bizer 68′), 11 Sarah Levy, 12 Eti Haungatau, 13 Kate Zackary (capt.), 14 Tess Feury, 15 Bulou Mataitoga

Not used: 23 Emily Henrich

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistants: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand) & Clotilde Benvenuti (Italy)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

 

Venue: Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay