Having bounced back from defeat to Japan on Saturday with a convincing win over Brazil, Sian Williams’ side entered the quarter-finals against Japan on Sunday in confident mood.
With the weather taking a distinct turn for the worse, Wales had to overcome the conditions and slick opponents. Wales held Japan to a 5-0 lead at the break, but a couple of missed tackles were exposed by Japan who with Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave, have a star in the making.
Her physical presence and silky skills were to the fore as she created one try and scored another to send Japan onwards to the title. Japan will now be joined by beaten finalists Ireland, in next season’s World Series.
The defeat meant Wales then had to beat Brazil – who they had comfortably defeated in pool play – to reach the Plate final.
With the rain hammering down, it proved a case of cat and mouse as possession was key to survival. Unfortunately on the stroke of halftime, Jess Kavanagh tried to run the ball out from inside her own 22. The ball was spilled in contact and in a flash Brazil swept to the other side of the pitch to score in the corner to turn the match.
The South Americans seized control early in the second half with a second try and even though wing Beth Dainton scored a superb solo try late on, Wales succumbed 10-5.
Wales rallied in their final game to dismiss China 29-5 to leave Wales Sevens head coach Rhys Edwards lamenting the marginal differences between day one and two which cost his team dearly.
“Overall I’m really pleased in the way we applied ourselves,” he said. “We gave a good account of ourselves in a tournament where the difference between the two days was marginal but it cost us.
“At this level you have to take your chances and make sure you minimise your mistakes as much as possible.
“It just takes seconds to score a try in sevens – if you have got the ball you can control the game whether it is the tempo or just territory. That is something we did very well on Saturday but we did not get a chance to do it on Sunday and the Brazil game was probably a turning point – we had more possession but we didn’t capitalise on the opportunities.
“Japan are a very good team, very organised and they showed on day two how clinical they are in getting the job done and they fully deserve to be on the series,” concluded Edwards.
