Wales held scoreless after break as Tafuna treble wins it for USA

Wales could not turn a half-time lead into a second WXV Series victory as Freda Tafuna’s hat-trick gave the USA a 26–24 win at Cardiff Arms Park. The hosts recovered from 14–0 down to lead 24–21, then went through the second half without scoring.

Four tries before the break

Tafuna scored the opening two tries from close range, with Bella Vogel converting both. Wales found a way back when Amy Williams ran a kick into the American 22 and Keira Bevan dummied through to score. Freya Bell converted. Erica Coulibaly’s try and Vogel’s conversion restored the USA’s 14-point advantage, but Wales responded with three tries in the closing ten minutes of the half. Kelsey Jones finished a driving maul, Sisilia Tuipulotu followed her over and Alex Callender scored after a quick tap penalty. Bell converted Jones’s try, hit the post after Tuipulotu’s and missed the attempt following Callender’s. Wales nevertheless went into the interval three points ahead.

Tafuna supplies the only second-half score

The USA pushed Wales back after the restart. A tackle from Emily Henrich created a loose ball in the Welsh 22, and Tafuna eventually forced her way over from a close-range ruck for her third try. Wales defended without conceding again, but could not produce a winning response. A Callender turnover brought a rare opportunity in American territory, while a later penalty kick took the hosts into the 22. Neither opening became points.

Equal on tries, separated by conversions

The WRU report records four tries for each side. Vogel’s three conversions against Bell’s two supplied the final two-point difference, while the second-half score was 5–0 to the USA, calculated from the interval and final totals. The WRU reported a crowd of 3,657. Georgia Evans earned her 50th cap on a day Wales came close to following the 50–19 win over South Africa with another victory. Wales’ WXV programme continues with two Tests in Japan.