WXV3: Wins for Spain and Netherlands

Spain 10 Fiji 8

The Spain has met all the objectives it set out for in Dubai to compete in the WXV3. They have won all their matches, beating Madagascar 83-0, the Netherlands 20-0 and Fiji 8-10; they have taken the crown of level 3 of the international tournament, securing another place for Europe in the higher level next year; and most importantly, they have secured one of the two available tickets to the 2025 World Cup in England.

Even though the Spanish team took to the field knowing that they were already mathematically qualified for England 2025, that didn't make them lose any intensity. Hong Kong's 3-33 defeat against the Netherlands gave them one of the World Cup tickets, but Las Leonas wanted more and showed it with a heart-stopping match against Fiji.

The match started with the Oceanic champions very well positioned on the field, proving to be thirsty after the defeat suffered by Samoa, the biggest in their history against their rival. The Spanish team had to put on their work clothes and defend and as a result, the only reward that the Oceanic team could get was a penalty kick in the 20th minute. After those first minutes, Las Leonas got into the swing of things and began to break defensively, initially without reward, but the first points on the Spanish scoreboard could not take long to arrive. After two attempts by Sidorella Bracic and Alba Vinuesa that were annulled by the referee, it was finally the powerful Alba Capell with an unstoppable pick and go who scored the first try of the match and put the Spanish team ahead before the end of the first half.

In the second period, the equality between both teams was notable, and with Fiji dominating possession, time was finally up when the Pacific team grounded the ball on the Spanish touchline, and had the opportunity to equalize but the final conversion, fortunately for Spain, did not go in.

The MVP of the match was the Spanish Alba Capell.

Fiji lineup: 1. Salanieta NABULI, 2. Keleni MARAWA, 3. Tiana ROBANAKADAVU, 4. Aviame VEIDREYAKI, 5. Alfreda FISHER, 6. Adi Salaseini RAILUMU, 7. Ema ADIVITALOGA, 8. Karalaini NAISEWA (C), 9. Evivi SENIKARIVI, 10. Salanieta KINITA, 11. Repeka ADI TOVE, 12. Jennifer RAVUTIA, 13. Adita MILINIA, 14. Kolora LOMANI, 15. Luisa TISOLO

Substitutes: 16. Loraini SENIVUTU, 17. Penina TUROVA, 18. Ana KOROVATA, 19. Asinate SEREVI, 20. Mereoni NAKESA, 21. Sulita WAISEGA, 22. Setaita TAILUMU, 23. Ivamere NABURA.

Spain lineup: 1. Laura DELGADO (c), 2. Cristina BLANCO, 3. Sidorella BRACIC, 4. Nadina CISA, 5. Lourdes ALAMEDA, 6. Nerea GARCÍA, 7. Alba CAPELL, 8. Carmen CASTELLUCCI, 9. Anne FERNÁNDEZ DE CORRES, 10. Amalia ARGUDO, 11. Clara PIQUERO, 12. Zahía PÉREZ, 13. Alba VINUESA, 14. Claudia PÉREZ, 15. Claudia PEÑA

Substitutes: 16. Marieta ROMAN (x2, min 51), 17. Ines ANTOLINEZ (x1, min 51), 18. Mireia DE ANDRES (x3, min 51), 19. Anna PUIG (x4, min 45), 20. Lia PINEIRO (x6, min 71), 21. Lucia DIAZ, 22. Claudia CANO (x13, min 65), 23. Martina MARQUEZ .

Score: Min 20 Penalty kick Luisa TISOLO [15 FIY] 3-0// Min 34 Yellow card Aviame VEIDREYAKI [4 FIY]// Min 35 Try Alba CAPELL [7 ESP] and conversion Zahía PÉREZ [12 ESP] 3-7// Min 76 Penalty kick Zahía PÉREZ 3-10// Min 82 Try Adita MILINIA [13 FIY] 8-10.

Netherlands 33 Hong Kong 3

Report to come