LATE PENALTY HEARTBREAK FOR WALES WOMEN

MICHELA SILLARI’S late penalty inflicted late heartbreak on Wales as Italy finished the Tiktok Women’s Six Nations on a high.

Keira Bevan thought she had won the match for the hosts with a try four minutes from time but Sillari held her nerve in the 80th minute to stun the 3,373 fans and cap a 10-8 win.

Sara Barattin scored Italy’s only try of the match and they led 7-0 for a large portion of the game, with Robyn Wilkins’ 71st-minute penalty marking Wales’ first points of the day.

It might have been a sunny day in Cardiff but it started to rain yellow after 20 minutes as both Robyn Wilkins and Sioned Harries were sent to the sin-bin for high tackles.

With Wales down to 13 players, Andrea di Giandomenico’s side were quick to take advantage with two scrums inside the 22.

The Azzurre continued their strong attack, with two runs down the left ending as penalties for Wales.

But Italy finally struck gold in the 32nd minute as flanker Beatrice Veronese offloaded to Barattin, who thwarted Wales’ defence and touched the ball over the line.

Sillari kept up her goal kick-success rate to make the scoreline 7-0 to Italy as Wilkins and Harries returned to play before halftime.

After the break, Italy came back with speed and force, playing straight into the Wales 22.

With 13 minutes to go,

Lucia Gai broke a divisive drive down the right by Wales to keep them ahead. But a penalty soon after put Wales within scoring range as Wilkins cleared the posts and put three points on the board to make it 7-3.

After Bevan’s try, it all came down to the last minute as Sillari’s penalty pushed Italy back into the lead to claim the victory.