Italy rout woeful Wales in Women's Six Nations finale
Wales completed a miserable Women's Six Nations campaign with a record 44-12 defeat by Italy in Parma.
Wales, who lost all five of their matches, led 12-10 at half-time but conceded 34 unanswered points in a one-sided second half.
Kate Williams deservedly put Wales ahead with a try inside 10 minutes after relentless early pressure, but a converted try from Sofia Stefan and a penalty from Michela Sillari gave the hosts the advantage.
Wales snatched that back just before the interval when prop Gwenllian Pyrs forced her way over, with Keira Bevan adding the conversion.
It did not take long on the resumption for things to change, though, with a Sillari penalty nudging Italy back in front in the 49th minute, and from there things quickly went downhill for the visitors.
Tries from Francesca Granzotto, Silvia Turani and Vittoria Minuzzi secured the bonus point, and Granzotto added a second before Aura Muzzo concluded the scoring after Natalia John had been sin-binned for a high tackle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Wales fan rushed to hospital after falling from upper tier during World Cup qualifier against Belgium
A WALES fan has been hospitalised after falling from a stand during their World Cup qualifier against Belgium. A 29-year-old man fell from the upper tier into the lower bowl of the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Monday night. 4 A Wales fan fell from the upper tier of the King Baudouin Stadium into the lower bowl on Monday night Credit: EPA 4 The supporter received immediate medical treatment before being rushed to the hospital Credit: EPA The man, who has not been named, was treated at the scene before being rushed to the hospital. He is believed to have fallen into the lower stands as The The supporter is expected to be discharged from hospital in the coming days. READ MORE IN SPORT A 4,500-strong troupe of Wales supporters travelled to Brussels to see It was a nightmare start for the visitors, who found themselves THREE GOALS DOWN in just 27 minutes thanks to strikes from Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and They got themselves back on level terms thanks to a first-half stoppage time penalty from But they were cruelly denied a point by an 88th-minute winner by soon-to-be free agent Kevin de Bruyne. Most read in Sport 4 Bellamy was proud as punch with his troops' display, saying: "I don't like losing. "I understand the game, but how you lose is more important. 4 Wales suffered an agonising 4-3 defeat to Belgium Credit: GETTY "Who are you as a person? Who is your team? I see that and I'm beyond proud. We're a good team. "I understand results, I really do, but football means more to me than that. "It always has done. I'd rather try something great and fail than do nothing and succeed."
The 42
7 hours ago
- The 42
Wales suffer dramatic World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium after fightback
WALES SUFFERED A dramatic 4-3 World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium as their incredible comeback from three goals down eventually proved in vain. Kevin De Bruyne was the Belgium match-winner two minutes from time to deny Wales a precious point in Brussels. Belgium had seized complete control inside 27 minutes as Romelu Lukaku, with a controversial penalty, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku silenced the loud 4,500-strong following from Wales. But Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the spot on the stroke of half-time, and cool finishes from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson turned the tie on its head. Almost every goal had a laborious VAR check and a late Lukaku effort was chalked off – resulting in both Wales manager Craig Bellamy and his Belgium counterpart Rudi Garcia being booked – but there was no saving the visitors as De Bruyne volleyed home at the far post. Wales had lost top spot in Group J before kick-off courtesy of North Macedonia's win in Kazakhstan. Bellamy's unbeaten record would also disappear – exactly a year to the day since Wales had lost for the last time – in his 10th game in charge. It was a duel between familiar foes with this being their 11th meeting in 13 years. Neco Williams was absent after being taken off on a stretcher in Friday's victory over Liechtenstein, and Bellamy made three changes with Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Jordan James recalled. Aston Villa midfielder Tielemans led a Belgian team who featured several faces well known to Premier League fans. Bellamy had promised a bold approach and Thomas was positive in the first minute to deliver a cross into the six-yard box that no-one in the middle could get on the end of. Advertisement Brennan Johnson of Wales celebrates after scoring the team's third goal . Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo But Wales crumbled in the space of 12 minutes after Johnson was adjudged to have handled De Bruyne's powerful shot. It appeared a harsh decision as Johnson's arm was close to his body, but Lukaku rolled the penalty home with ease. Belgium worked an overload down the right four minutes later and Maxim De Cuyper found Tielemans, who stroked the ball high past Karl Darlow in the Wales goal. Matz Sels instantly denied David Brooks one-on-one at the other end, and the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper shovelled aside Ben Davies' follow-up effort. But Belgium menaced with every attack and Doku broke clear to set up De Bruyne, who was inches away from adding another. Doku's footwork had dazzled and Wales had no answer when the Manchester City winger cut inside Davies. Darlow got a hand to the low shot, but could not prevent it from crossing the line. De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard were booked for cynical fouls on Johnson as Wales revived, and the visitors were given hope in first-half stoppage time. Sels made contact with Mepham's head as he attempted to fist away a Thomas corner and Wilson claimed his 14th international goal from the penalty spot. Dodi Lukebakio missed a sitter within seconds of his half-time arrival and Belgium were punished when Wilson spotted Thomas unmarked on the left. The new Stoke signing kept his composure to fire under Sels for his first Wales goal. Wales wanted more and substitute Mark Harris sent a golden chance wide. Johnson nodded the leveller after Thomas had headed Wilson's cross back across goal, but De Bruyne had the final word to break Welsh hearts.
Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Craig Bellamy insists Wales' World Cup qualifying hopes alive despite dramatic defeat to Belgium
Wales lost a seven-goal thriller in Brussels after fighting back from a 3-0 deficit, only for Kevin De Bruyne to deliver a gut punch two minutes from time. It was Bellamy's first defeat in 10 games in charge and Wales were also knocked off top spot in Group J by North Macedonia, 1-0 winners in Kazakhstan. Belgium are three points behind Wales with two games in hand, and will visit Cardiff in October for the return fixture. The group winners will qualify automatically for next summer's finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with Wales almost certainly guaranteed a play-off place through their Nations League results. Wales manager Bellamy said: 'I think I read something from the Belgium media - 'an easy way to the USA'? 'There's a lot of life in this group and today I saw a lot of life in this team. We aren't going anywhere. 'I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging but I'm beyond proud and really excited about the future.' Belgium led 3-0 inside 27 minutes through Romelu Lukaku - a controversial penalty awarded after De Bruyne's shot hit the hand of Brennan Johnson - Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku. Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the penalty spot ahead of the break before Sorba Thomas, with his first Wales goal, and Johnson put the visitors back on level terms. Bellamy said: 'I don't like losing. I understand the game but how you lose is more important. ADVERTISEMENT 'Who are you as a person? Who is your team? I see that and I'm beyond proud. We're a good team. 'To come to a top-eight team and can we play the way we want to play? I think the Belgium players saw it as well. I won't tell you what we discussed.' Bellamy had promised to go on the attack in Brussels before the game and not sit back and defend against opponents ranked eighth in the world. He said: 'I understand results, I really do. But football means more to me than that. It always has done. 'I'd rather try something great and fail than do nothing and succeed. I've always been that way. 'I might not be great at anything but I'll try to be. It means more. I liked that. 'I said I wasn't coming to sit back, it's not in my nature, don't do it ... it's not our culture, it's not who we are. 'So for me it was, 'can we come to a top-eight team in the world then and come and play?'.'
