Spain ran hard at Wales in the opening two minutes, but when the visitors kicked through a wayward Spanish pass, wing Jess Kavanagh-Williams was unlucky not to touch down for the opening try.
The honour went to outside centre Kerin Lake, who first exploited a gap in the hosts’ midfield, then showed all her strength to stay on her feet and fend off the tackler to score in the left corner for a fantastic individual try. The difficult conversion attempt from the touchline missed by mere centimetres by fly half Robyn Wilkins, but Wales had drawn first blood in the first four minutes.
Kavanagh-Williams, fed by Lake, again went close as the first quarter drew to its conclusion, only to be gang-tackled into touch in the corner. However, Spain’s overthrown 5m lineout allowed a grateful Lowri Harries to gather the ball and stroll over for the try. Wilkins converted the hooker’s try for a 0-12 lead.
Kavanagh-Williams finally got what she deserved after 30 minutes – and this time down her own wing – after patient phase work from Wales. It was a superb conversion from Wilkins that took Wales 19 points clear.
Spain attempted to tighten up their defence considerably in the second half, with some success, but Wales continued to pose threats all over the park. Close to the 50-minute mark, it was all about the Harries forwards from Scarlets, as No.8 Sioned Harries came into the backline and spun a beautifully accurate pass out to Lowri Harries for the hooker’s second try. The conversion failed, but Wales were putting daylight between themselves and the hosts with 24 unanswered points.
The ever-confident Lake then found herself back on the scoreboard as the game drew to a close; this try following a powerful charge from replacement centre Gemma Rowland.
Then came the turn of replacement back Jasmine Joyce. On her rugby union debut for Wales, the Olympian displayed trademark devastating footwork and speed to cross the line twice in quick succession and put the icing on the cake for her side’s victory.
Wales travel to Dublin next weekend full of confidence for the second of their Women’s Six Nations warm-up matches.
They will host two home matches at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park in this season’s competition, against England and Ireland, with tickets for those highly-anticipated matches now available here.
