WXV 2: Wallaroos get their revenge
WRAP: The Australia Women took revenge for last week's defeat, beating the Wales Women 37-5, while Scotland Women kicked off their title defence with a 19-0 win over Italy in the WXV 2 opener on Saturday.
The Wallaroos sent a stern message to their WXV 2 opponents as they outscored the Wales team six tries to one.
The win is an incredible turnaround for the side, who suffered a defeat to Wales last week.
It was a tense affair in the opening half as both teams brought the intensity from their Newport thriller.
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Wales had the first opportunities to attack but were unable to breach a determined Australian defensive line.
It allowed the Wallaroos to launch their own attacks and then looked to have scored through a rolling maul to Tania Naden, called back by the referee for not using the ball in time.
The Wallaroos eventually scored in the 21st minute as a break from Maya Stewart got the Australians inside the Wales' 22. From there Layne Morgan caught the Wales' napping and scored the opening try Wallaroos 5-0.
Carys Phillips got Wales on level terms when she powered over at the back of the rolling maul.
The team looked set to head to the sheds locked at 5-all. However, Wallaroos prop Eva Karpani had other ideas. The No.3 bumped off two defenders for a great solo try, handing the Wallaroos 10-5.
The second half started a little bit slow with both teams struggling to hold onto the ball.
Wallaroos added to their tally with a successful penalty by Moleka.
The final 20 minutes belonged to Australia. After Atasi Lafai was held up over the line, the Wallaroos produced another attack before Maya Stewart found space out wide and dived over.
Cramer added the extras for the 20-5 lead.
Minutes later, Moleka added her name to the try-scorer list as Cecilia Smith, Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Desiree Miller linked up to set up the back.
Cramer benefited from a brilliant passage of play before Stewart added her second of the day for the 37-5 lead.
Walaes also went down to 14 players and just could not find their rhythm. The side had some possession but great work by Wallaroos at the breakdown saw them pouch the ball and seal the win.
In the second game of the day, the defending WXV 2 champions Scotland scored three tries in a match that was played in torrential rain.
Italy centre Beatrice Rigoni got the match started. The midfielder's side showed true grit in the opening exchanges with some lovely hands.
The Italians also had a chance to register the first points but Rigoni puhsed her penalty attempt wide.
Instead, the first point went to Scotland in the 28th minute. Emma Orr's bullet pass found Chloe Rollie, who strolled in for the five-pointer.
Helen Nelson added the extras for the 7-0 lead.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Scotland extended their lead, when Lana Skeldon finished a trademark rolling maul try for her country, 14-0.
In the second half, Nelson put Coreen Grant into space for the team's final try and the win
All the scores and scorers:
Australia Women 37-5 Wales Women
The scorers:
For Australia Women:
Tries: Morgan, Kapani, Stewart 2, Moleka, Cramer
Cons: Cramer 2
Pen: Moleka
For Wales Women:
Try: Phillips
Yellow card: Molly Reardon (Wales, 73 - high tackle)
Teams:
Australia Women: 15 Caitlyn Halse, 14 Maya Stewart, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 12 Trilleen Pomare, 11 Desiree Miller, 10 Faitala Moleka, 9 Layne Morgan, 8 Tabua Tunakauvadra, 7 Ashley Marsters, 6 Siokapesi Palu, 5 Michaela Leonard, 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 3 Eva Karpani, 2 Tania Naden, 1 Bridie O’Gorman.
Replacements: 16 Tiarna Molloy, 17 Alapeta Ngauamo, 18 Lydia Kavoa, 19 Atasi Lafai, 20 Lucy Dinnen, 21 Natalie Wright, 22 Arabella McKenzie, 23 Lori Cramer.
Wales Women: 15 Jenny Hesketh, 14 Jasmine Joyce, 13 Carys Cox, 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Nel Metcalfe, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Keira Bevan (captain); 8 Bethan Lewis, 7 Kate Williams, 6 Alisha Butchers, 5 Georgia Evans, 4 Natalia John, 3 Donna Rose, 2 Carys Phillips, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs.
Replacements: 16 Molly Reardon, 17 Abbey Constable, 18 Jennie Scoble, 19 Abbie Fleming, 20 Alex Callender, 21 Sian Jones, 22 Kayleigh Powell, 23 Hannah Jones
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Zoe Naude (South Africa) & Local
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
Scotland Women 19-0 Italy Women
The scorers:
For Scotland Women:
Tries: Rollie, Skeldon, Grant
Cons: Nelson 2
For Italy Women: NONE
Yellow card: Aura Muzzo (Italy, 25 - deliberate knock-on)
Scotland Women: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Meryl Smith, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Caity Mattinson, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Fi McIntosh, 3 Christine Belisle, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Anne Young.
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Lisa Cockburn, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Louise McMillan, 20 Alex Stewart, 21 Leia Brebner-Holden, 22 Lisa Thomson, 23 Lucia Scott.
Saturday, September 28
Italy Women: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Sara Mannini, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Francesca Granzsotto, 10 Emma Stevanin, 9 Sofia Stefan, 8 Elisa Giordano (captain), 7 Beatrice Veronese, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Sara Tounesi, 3 Laura Gurioli, 1 Emmaula Stecca.
Replacements: 16 Vittori Vecchinni, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 Vittoria Zanette, 19 Alessandra Frangipani. 20 Francesca Sgorbini, 21 Sofia Catelani, 22 Michela Sillari, 23 Beatrice Capomaggi
Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)
Assistant Referees: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) & Local
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)