Wales Women delivered the ideal warm-up for the WXV1 tournament with their first victory over USA Women Eagles.
Wales’ pack dominated in soaking conditions at Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay and set the platform for an historic 38-18 win over the side one place below in the world rankings.
Alisha Butchers marked her return to Test rugby with the opening try before Keira Bevan – who also kicked four conversions – and Lisa Neumann crossed for an impressive 19-3 half-time lead.
USA rallied with two tries early in the second half though Wales responded to both with scores by player of the match Alex Callendar.
USA grabbed a third in the closing stages but there was still time for Sioned Harries to mark her 75th cap and cap an impressive forward display with a sixth Wales try in the final seconds.
Wales will now head to New Zealand for the inaugural WXV competition – kicking off against Canada on October 21 in Wellington – full of confidence.
Wales got off to the perfect start when Butchers celebrated her return from a long-term knee injury with a score inside six minutes.
Wales’ forwards pounded away before the flanker dived over a heap of bodies to open the scoring.
USA fly-half Gabriella Cantorna kicked a penalty but Wales were swiftly back on the front foot through their pack with the scrum proving a powerful weapon allowing scrum-half Bevan to squeeze over.
USA had influential flanker Freda Tafuna sin binned for a high tackle on Gwenllian Pyrs and Wales took advantage when Jasmine Joyce juggled, fended, stepped and then passed to hand Neumann a clear run to the line just before half-time.
Carys Cox, on her Test debut, also had a hand in the build up with the first of a series of strong carries.
The Eagles, ranked seventh in the world, hit straight back in the opening minute of the second half through wing Sarah Levy to cut Wales’ lead to 19-8.
However just as USA threatened, it was the Welsh set-piece that delivered as Callendar finished a devastating lineout drive.
Tafuna crossed for USA following her return for 26-13 but again Callendar was on-hand to restore Wales’ advantage.
Butchers and Neumann made in-roads along with Abby Constable before Callendar dived under between the posts.
USA were again reduced to 14 players when Fane Haungatau was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Wales fly-half Robyn Wilkins in the build up to the try.
However the teams were soon level for numbers when Wales replacement Donna Rose, another returning to action from a long-term injury, was sin binned and USA barged over for a third late on.
