Wales Women shut out Italy

The victory made it three wins from four for Wales Women in this season’s Women’s Six Nations. On the day that Louise Rickard overtook Gareth Llewellyn to become the most capped player in Welsh rugby history, the 93 cap veteran found herself being slightly upstaged by her fellow wing Non Evans.

The Clifton star helped herself to fourteen points on her return to the Wales starting line up following the five operations that were needed to get her back to full fitness after breaking her leg so badly in last year’s Championship. Having eased her way back into the Wales Women’s side as a replacement in the 15-0 defeat in France, Evans helped herself to two of her side’s four tries as they warmed-up for next weekend’s Triple Crown shoot out with England at Taffs Well.

The first half was pretty even as the enthusiastic Italians, making their debut in the Women’s Six Nations this season, competed ferociously all over the field. The only score in the opening forty minutes came when Wales’s outside centre Naomi Thomas crossed for the first try and Non Evans converted.

Berry’s team stepped up the pace after the break and the Wales pack began to make inroads into the home forwards. Thomas made a great break nine minutes after the restart and new outside half Rachel Poolman sent Non Evans racing to the corner for a try which she converted magnificently off the touchline. The wing then raced in for her second try fourteen minutes later after the Welsh forwards had stormed up field and Poolman had spread the ball wide from some quick possession at a ruck.

The flagging Italians became increasingly desperate in their attempts to stop the Welsh attacks and flanker Celeste Cristofanello spent ten minutes in the sin bin for a professional foul between 65 and 75 minutes. Ironically, Wales didn’t add to their score when they had the one woman advantage, but Berry rounded off a good day’s work with the fourth try just before the end following a brilliant run by the record breaking Rickard.

Having finished second in the Championship last season, Wales will go into their twentieth anniversary clash with England with hopes high of matching that success and perhaps even pinching a first win over the old enemy.

Women’s Six Nations
Italy Women 0 Wales Women 24

Wales
Tries: N Evans (2), N Thomas, M Berry
Con: N Evans (2)

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

Replacements: Hannah Torangi (UWIC) for Donovan 68; Nicola Evans (Wasps) for Nicholas 68; Rhian Williams (Wasps) for Flowers 75; Hannah Szigetvari (Tylorstown) for Ellen Evans 68

Wales Women’s Women’s Six Nations Fixtures
Wales v Ireland (Taffs Well) Sat 3 Feb, Won 10-5
Scotland v Wales (Dunbar) Sat 10 Feb, Won 10-0
France v Wales (Stade Guy Moquet à Drancy) Sat 24 Feb, Lost 0-15
Italy v Wales (Rugby Roma) Sun 11, Won 24-0
Wales v England (Taffs Well) Sat 17 Mar (2.30pm)