Edwards said Wales’ first victory of the RBS 6 Nations championship will be a morale boosting result going into the next match against Scotland and the finale against England which will be played at Aberavon’s Port Talbot Athletic ground on 17th March.
“Fair play to the girls, they followed the game plan brilliantly and Italy didn’t have any answers,” said a delighted Edwards. “I can’t single out any players because each and every player contributed to a fantastic win. There’s no reason why we should fear anyone after picking up the victory against what has been a very impressive Italian side this season.”
Italy opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a penalty but Wales’ industrious pack worked prop Catrin Edwards over in the 27th minute from a lineout close to the Italy try-line.
Italy hit back with a second penalty but Wales hit the front again on the stroke of halftime when Lowri Harries followed Edwards’ example and touched down from another excellent move from a lineout.
Veronica Schiavon kicked a third penalty for the home side two minutes after the re-start to reduce the arrears to a single point. Wales scrum half Laura Prosser increased the lead with a well struck penalty in the 58th minute but Italy refused to go away and responded with another penalty in the 64th minute.
Prosser slotted her second penalty in the 78th minute and it was all hands to the pump as Italy hit back through a fifth penalty in the 83rd minute.
Resolute defence ensured Italy never got another sniff of any points as Wales registered their first win of the campaign to remain on course of qualifying automatically for next year’s World Cup in France with a top four finish in the Six Nations.
“The forwards laid a solid platform and the backs defended stoutly. Italy never really offered a lot,” said Edwards. “We made a couple of errors when the girls got a little bit excited but they put that behind them to do a job on Italy – I’m really proud of them.”
