WXV 2: Wallaroos get their revenge

REPORT: The Australia Women took revenge for last week’s defeat, beating the Wales Women 37-5 in the WXV 2 opener at Cape Town Stadium.

The Wallaroos sent a stern message to their WXV 2 oppenets as they outscore 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.

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 evetually 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 rolling maul.

The team’s 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 struggled to hold onto the ball.

Wallaroos added to their tally with a successful penlty 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 outwide 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 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 ryhtm. The side had some possession but great work by Wallaroos at the breakdown saw them pouch the ball and seal the win.

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)