Its a Six Nations of firsts this year - Ireland's first win over France last week - and now the result that even the Welsh captain could not bring herself to hope for before the game, Wales's first ever win over England!With England looking to the Sevens, the clash of dates between this round of Six Nations and the San Diego warm-up always looked a gamble - but it seemed a gamble that England, with their huge depth of talent, could cope with. While some of us predicted a tight game, no-one predicted this.
Things seemed to be going more or less to this plan at half-time. The try scoring duo of Pocock and Scarratt had one score each, balanced by a try from Wales captain Mel Berry, gave England a 12-8 lead. Close first halves are not uncommon - England were behind to the Irish President's XV at halfway in December - but generally England's superior fitness allows them to pull ahead in the second half. But that was not to be this time.
Wales - who had dominated possession in the first period - continued to do so, and when Scarratt was sin-binned for a professional foul even England's back line could not hold. The fresh legs of replacement Wales wing Aimee Young were too much for the depleted back-line as she went over in the corner to put Wales 13-12 ahead, the kick being too much for Non Evans - who was not having a great day with the boot - to make.
England now threw everything at the Welsh, and as the game entered the final minute Katy McLean took her chance with a penalty that put England 15-13 ahead. It looked like they had got themselves out of gaol.
But Wales were not finished. Successfully recovering the restart, Wales kept the ball alive working their way into the English 22 before pressure told and a penalty gave Non Evans the chance to make up for her earlier misses. She kicked straight and true, the final whistle went, and after 22 years and 26 attempts Wales at last had their first win over their oldest rivals.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.