Wales Women put in a promising performance despite losing to a technical and more athletic Canadian team tonight at Taffs Well RFC.
Canada Women were dominant for most of the game but Wales Women certainly didn’t suffer from a lack of possession. At their spiritual home ground, Wales Women had some strong line-out ball and were effective at the set piece, in slowing down the ball at the breakdown and restricted the possession of the Canadian backs.
Wales Women No.15 Non Evans took three points after ten minutes but the lead was short lived when Canada Women’s Sarah Ulmer scored their first try in the 11th minute underneath the posts after he No.13 broke the line and off-loaded the ball to set up the finish, which was then converted by Meghan Mutrie.
The second half didn’t see any points on the board for Wales Women but despite a yellow card Canada Women showed real power and athletic ability when they got the ball and managed two late tries in the 78th and 80th minutes. However, neither were converted.
Head Coach Fielies Coetsee was optimistic despite the final score: “It was our first game of the season and inevitably we still need time to gel as a team but being honest they created and took their opportunities well.
“I was pleased with our scrum and the players showed some real promise ahead of the Six Nations campaign. We’ve got a few months to gel and I’m confident we’ve got some strong performances ahead.”
Canada Women’s Head Coach, Quinten Fyffe, also praised the Welsh scrum and set piece: “Wales Women were strong and destructive at the breakdown, strong at set piece and because of that we had to adjust our tactics, it’s the first time our girls have been put under pressure but we responded well and came away with the game.”
