WALES WOMEN.................23 USA FALCONS....................31

USA Falcons staged a stirring second-half fightback to beat Wales in their women’s Six Nations warm-up.

It was Wales’ first outing since 12 players signed professional contracts, with 11 others on retainer deals.

Alisha Butchers, Hannah Jones and Donna Rose crossed for Wales, while Sioned Harries made her first international appearance in over two years.

Hope Jones, Alycia Washington, Kate Zachary and Alev Kelter were the USA’s try-scorers.

Wales now open their Six Nations away to Ireland on March 26.

Wales got off to a dream start, with flanker Butchers stealing line-out ball on the five metre line and finding the whitewash with relative ease.

Robyn Wilkins missed the conversion, but the fly-half was on target with a penalty soon after.

Centre Hannah Jones turned on the gas for Wales’ second score, before Falcons hit back with a close range try from prop Rogers.

The visitors added a second before the break with Washington crossing from the second row. Kelter added the conversion to keep them to within a score.

As expected both sides made multiple changes in the second half, with Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham introducing Harries to the back row.

The 32-year-old, who won the last of her 58 caps in the 2019 autumn internationals, made an instant impact with one of her typical barnstorming runs.

In a fractured second half, the visitors adapted best to breaks in play with Zachary crossing for her second and Kelter also deservedly getting her name on the scoresheet. Megan Foster added two conversions, while Lleucu George showed her prowess with the boot by slotting over a penalty for Wales.