Wales XV overpower Spain

Eleven years after the teams last met, Wales travelled to Alicante to take on Spain in the first of two uncapped warm-up internationals prior the Six Nations.

Spain brought a strong team to the game, while Spain - whose priority is the Women's Sevens World Series only a few weeks away - fielded a team lacking several key players from their European Championship and World Cup qualification teams, aiming instead to deepen their experience.

Spain ran hard at Wales in the opening two minutes, but when the visitors kicked through a wayward Spanish pass, wing Jess Kavanagh-Williams was unlucky not to touch down for the opening try.

The honour went to outside centre Kerin Lake, who first exploited a gap in the hosts' midfield, then showed all her strength to stay on her feet and fend off the tackler to score in the left corner for a fantastic individual try. The difficult conversion attempt from the touchline missed by mere metres by fly-half Robyn Wilkins, but Wales had drawn first blood in the first four minutes. 0-5.

Kavanagh-Williams, fed by Lake, against went close as the first quarter drew to its conclusion, only to be gang-tackled into touch in the corner. However, Spain's overthrown 5m lineout allowed a grateful Lowri Harries to gather the ball and stroll over for the try. Wilkins converted the hooker's try for a 0-12 lead. Kavanagh-Williams finally got what she was after 30 minutes in - and this time down her own wing - after patient phase work from Wales. It was a superb conversion from Wilkins that took Wales 19 points clear.

Spain attempted to tighten up their defence considerably in the second half, with some success, but Wales continued to pose threats all over the park and Spanish handling errors resulted in the loss of several scoring opportunities. Close to the 50-minute mark, it was all about the Harries forwards from Scarlets, as number eight Sioned Harries came into the backline and spun a beautifully accurate pass out to Lowri Harries for the hooker's second try. The conversion failed, but Wales were putting daylight between themselves and the hosts with 24 unanswered points.

The ever-confident Lake then found herself back on the scoreboard as the game drew to a close; this try following a powerful charge from replacement centre Gemma Rowland. 0-29.

Then came the turn of replacement back Jasmine Joyce. On her rugby union debut for Wales, the Olympian displayed trademark devastating footwork and speed to cross the line twice in quick succession and put the icing on the cake for her side's 34-point victory.

Wales travel to Dublin next weekend full of confidence for the second of their Women's Six Nations warm-up matches.

Wales:15 Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets), 14 Jessica Kavanagh-Williams (Scarlets),13 Kerin Lake (Ospreys),12 Rebecca De Filippo (Newport Gwent Dragons), 11 Elen Evans (Scarlets), 10 Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys), 9 Keira Bevan (Ospreys), 1 Cerys Hale (Newport Gwent Dragons), 2 Lowri Harries (Scarlets), 3 Amy Evans (Ospreys), 4 Rebecca Rowe (Newport Gwent Dragons), 5 Mel Clay (Ospreys), 6 Sian Williams (Newport Gwent Dragons), 7 Rachel Taylor (Scarlets), 8 Sioned Harries (Scarlets)

Replacements:16 Gwenllian Pyrs (Scarlets), 17 Kelsey Jones (Ospreys),18 Caryl Thomas (Scarlets),19 Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), 20 Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys), 21 Sian Moore (Newport Gwent Dragons), 22 Elinor Snowsill (Newport Gwent Dragons), 23 Gemma Rowland (Newport Gwent Dragons), 24 Adi Taviner (Ospreys), 25 Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets)

Spain squad: MACIAS VALCAYO, Isabel, RICO VÁZQUEZ, Isabel, REDONDO, Elena, SCHIAVÓN MATEAO, Irene, HURTADO, Sabina, ERBINA ARAÑA, Amaia, FERNANDEZ DE CORRES, Anne, GONZÁLEZ, Aroa, LOSADA GIFRA, María, DEL PAN MORUNO, Ángela, RAMÓN GUARDIA, Anna, GASSO GARCÍA, Diana, GARCIA, Rocio, CASTELO MEJUTO, Mónica, MEDÍN LÓPEZ, Paula, VINUEZA LOYOLA, Jeanina, JAURENA ATXA, Saioa, AGIRRE, Nerea, ENARA, Cacho, BARRITIETA, Uribarri, CASTRO, Elisa, GARCIA, Berta, CASADO GONZÁLEZ, María, AHIS, Maria