Wales overwhelm UK Forces

Wales ended their short upcapped Autumn series with a clinical display against a UK Forces XV

Published by John Birch, November 12th, 2016

3 minute read

Try Audio

Wales overwhelm UK Forces

Photo: BBCWales/Huw Evans Picture Agency

Report from BBC.

Wales made the most of a flying start to beat the UK Armed Forces 43-5 in a special Armistice Day match at the Arms Park.

Dyddgu Hywel, Mel Clay and Sioned Harries all crossed in the first eight minutes with Alisha Butchers' try making it 24-0 at the break. Clay again, Jess Kavanagh-Williams and Elen Evans added second-half tries with Elinor Snowsill converting four. RAF and Wales full-back Charlie Murray scored a late Forces consolation.

Clay's second after 51 minutes was the pick of the bunch as the rangy lock ran in from a Keira Bevan break out of defence. It was a second Wales victory of the month after beating Scotland 15-0, as they prepare for the Six Nations and 2017 World Cup.

Player of the match Elinor Snowsill told BBC Wales Sport:

"I'm chuffed with the performance of the whole squad, we scored tries early on, then we had a 20-minute period where we switched off, but we came back out, finished the game off and scored some nice tries. It's a massive positive that we threw on a lot of subs, we made a lot of positional changes, and still kept our structure. We're really thankful for the chance (to play autumn internationals), it gives us time to work on different combinations, and you blow out the cobwebs to keep moving forward into the Six Nations and World Cup.

"I only switched to left-foot (goal) kicking two weeks ago, I'd always struggled with my right foot kicking for the posts, so I gave the left a go and it worked."

Wales:Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets); Jess Kavanagh-Williams (Scarlets), Kerin Lake (Ospreys), Rebecca De Filippo (Dragons), Adi Taviner (Ospreys); Elinor Snowsill (Dragons), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Cerys Hale (Dragons), Carys Phillips (Ospreys, capt), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Sioned Harries (Scarlets), Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys).

Replacements:Lowri Harries (Scarlets), Gwenllian Pyrs (Scarlets), Catrin Edwards (Scarlets), Charlie Mundy (Ospreys), Rachel Taylor (Scarlets), Sian Moore (Dragons), Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys), Elen Evans (Scarlets), Jodie Evans (Scarlets), Nia Elen Davies (Scarlets)..

UK Armed Forces:Charlie Murray (RAF); Jade Mullen, Gemma Rowland, Sarah Mitchelson (capt), Bethan Dainton; Katie Hancock, Gemma Stonebridge-Smith; Sarah Batley, Rae Metters, Bianca Dawson, Ellie Gattlin, Heidi Silcox, Erica Mills (all Army), Sian Williams (RAF), Alexandra Hardy (Army).

Replacements:Paula Robinson (Army), Maria Waghorn (RAF), Fran Athawes (Army), Kat Dale, Kate Edwards (RAF), Charlotte Fredrickson (Navy), Mariette Claasens (Army), Chrissy Siczowa (RAF), Carrie Roberts, Jessica McAuley-Roberts (Army).

Post