Italy Women prove too hot to handle at Principality Stadium.
There was a pretty even start as both teams tested each other out in midfield at a slowly-filling Principality Stadium.
The Italians looked the livelier of the two teams and a great move, passing through many pairs of hands, resulted in Isobella Locatelli dotting down for the game's first try, convered by Michela Sillari and a lead of 0-7 to the visitors after ten minutes.
The Italians enjoyed most of the play in the first quarter, looking threatening whilst the Welsh girls struggled to get in to their rhythm.
A super break on half hour by centre Kerin Lake brought the crowd to life as Wales starting asking the Italian defence some questions. The home side's closest scoring attempt was thwarted just yards from the try line when the referee deemed some crossing had occurred before the pack started their drive for the line.
Wales had upped the tempo and were going through the phases, forwards gaining some hard yards, forcing the Italians in to some desperate defending and an indiscretion led to a penalty which Ospreys centre Robyn Wilkins calmly slotted through the posts to reduce the Italian lead to 3-7.
With thirty five minutes on the clock a delicious break in midfield by Alisha Butchers signalled a series of drives at the Italian defenders and it was fitting that Butchers finished the move with a touch down for the home side's first try and a lead of 8-7.
Just when Wales thought they would be heading in to the changing rooms with a slender lead, the Italians launched an attack of their own and, with the ball being moved at speed along their back line, it was winger Maria Magatti who had the final word of the half, touching down in the corner, unconverted, giving the visitors an interval lead of 8-12.
Like the first half, the second period was even in the early stages until the dangerous Italian backline, after 48 minutes, made a super break only to take the wrong option of kicking forward when a final pass in to the waiting winger would surely have resulted in a score.
However, the visitors were not to be denied and in their next attack, led by outstanding flanker Isabella Locatelli, the ball was recycled to centre Beatrice Rigoni who powered over for an Italian try, increasing their lead to 8-17.
Wales' caused suffered a further setback when second row Mel Clay was shown the yellow card while the Italians sniffed blood, camped close to the home try line.
As we entered the final quarter both sides started to ring the changes. Wales then received their second yellow card of the game after a lengthy discussion between the TMO and the referee, resulting in livewire Alisha Butchers spending much of the remaining 13 minutes in the bin.
With time running out the Welsh girls went on the offensive and finally got the breakthrough with a try by Sioned Harries, converted by Robyn Wilkins, to set up a thrilling finale with the sore at 15-17.
A kick and chase by the Italians led to Sioned Harries becoming the third Welsh player to receive a yellow card for hanging on to the loose ball. From the resultant penalty the Italians punched a few holes in the defenders and finally found a gap to put the game beyond doubt with a Michela Sillari try and a final score line of Wales 15 v Italy 22.
Italy celebrated an impressive win in Wales while the home side will be disappointed that indiscipline may well have cost them the result.
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