Wales Women lose to France

Both teams were unbeaten going into round three of the Women’s Six Nations Championship and France, who finished third in last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, were seeking revenge for their first defeat by Wales, 11-10, last season.

Melissa Berry’s team battled their way back into the game after conceding a try after only five minutes and were very much on a par with the home side at the interval when they trailed by only five points. Having started nervously, the Wales pack came more and more into the game with No.8 Kylie Wilson using all the experience of her fifty-one caps to urge her side forward.

Wales had first use of a strong wind and had to turn to face the elements in the second half as well as chase the game. Home skipper Estelle Sartini used the wind and her clever boot to steer her side home after the break. She kicked a penalty on the hour after some unnecessary back chat from the Welsh players and then converted a second try from powerful centre Dalila Boukerma five minutes from time.

Having barged her way through some weak defence to notch her first try, Boukerma grabbed her second when Naomi Thomas failed to hold onto a high ball in her 22.

Having incurred their first defeat in the 2007 Women’s Six Nations Championship, Berry’s team still have a Triple Crown to target with Rugby World Cup finalists England coming to Taffs Well on Saturday March 17th. Before then they will have to re-group before travelling to face Italy on Sunday March 11th.

Wales wing Louise Rickard equalled Gareth Llewellyn’s Welsh cap record as she took her total to ninety-two and there was a remarkable return to the test arena for Non Evans a year after she broke her leg so badly at Sardis Road that she was told to quit the game. The Clifton fullback came on as a fifty-third minute replacement for Elen Evans and proved she has lost none of her talent.

2007 Women’s Six Nations
France 15 Wales 0

France
Tries: D Boukerma (2)
Con: E Sartini
Pen: E Sartini

France Women: C Allainmat; A Gayda (M Talayrach 75), C Le Duff, D Boukerma, F Horta; E Sartini (captain, S Collombat 75), J Pujol (J Troncy 75); D Irazu, L Salles (A Noguera 72), F Gelis (G Mutis 42), C Devroute, S Rabier (M Gauffinet 53), M Carmatta, D Plantet (M Loyez 48), C Canal

Wales Women: Elen Evans (Dolgellau); Rachel Williams (Wasps), Rachel Poolman (UWIC), Clare Flowers (Clifton), Louise Rickard (Saracens); Naomi Thomas (Clifton), Mellissa Berry (Cardiff Quins, captain); Louise Horgan (Saracens), Amy Broadstock (Llandaff North), Jenny Davies (Waterloo), Claire Donovan (Saracens), Liza Burgess (Clifton), Catrina Nicholas (Cardiff Quins), Jamie Kift (Clifton), Kylie Wilson (Clifton)

Replacements: Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun) for Donovan 70; Nicola Evans (Wasps) for Broadstock 83; Non Evans (Clifton) for Evans 53