Italy avenged their loss to Sweden in last year's
Women's European Trophy with a 10-0 victory in their Pool B
decider in Haguenau on Wednesday to earn a place in the final
against the impressive Spain.
The loss 12 months ago ended Italy's hopes of qualifying
for Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 with Sweden ultimately taking
that honour, but wing Maria Diletta Veronese's try on the half
hour set her side on the road to victory.
Veronica Schiavon kicked the conversion to send Italy in with
a 7-0 advantage at half time, the fly half then adding a late
penalty for the only score of the second half to leave Sweden to
battle it out with the Netherlands for third place overall.
Spain, though, have been the side to watch in the Women's
European Trophy, brushing aside the challenges of the Netherlands
and a France A side featuring a number of players who featured in
this year's RBS Women's Six Nations.
Berta Garcia opened the scoring against Belgium in the
seventh minute and by the end of the first quarter of the match
Spain had already wrapped up the try-scoring bonus point with
Aitziber Porras, Marta Pocurull and Vanessa Rial also touching
down.
Spain went in leading 40-0 at half time thank to tries from
Lia Bailan and Isabel Rodriguez, with centre Elisabeth Martinez
grabbing a second half brace before Pocurull, Isabel Dolera and
Bailan crossed the try-line to wrap up a 66-0 defeat of Belgium.
Netherlands end long wait
The Belgians finish bottom of Pool B having suffered three
heavy defeats, failing to score a point against France A, the
Netherlands or Spain. They will hope for a closer game when they
face Germany in the seventh place play-off on Saturday.
The other Pool A match saw the Netherlands run out 14-5
winners over France A to record a first win over any French
national side (test or representative) since 1986, but they still
had to settle for second place behind Spain.
Kelly van Harskamp scored the only try of the first half in
Metz and replacement Joyce van Hilten doubled the Netherlands'
advantage to 14-0 within seven minutes after the restart. Alexandra
Pertus did cut the deficit with a try of her own but the Dutch held
on for victory.
France A will now face Russia in the fifth place, after they
picked up their first win of the tournament - 17-14 over Germany -
thanks to a late try from full back Nadezda Yarmotskaya in the
other Pool B match in Haguenau.
Neither side had scored a point going into the match, but a
brace of tries from scrum half Tatiana Sokolova gave Russia a 12-0
lead before Germany cut the deficit to five when Ninja Duri crossed
the try-line.
Flanker Lisa Maral gave Germany the lead eight minutes into
the second half, but victory was snatched from their grasp when
Yarmotskaya touched down, despite Russia being a player down at the
time with Ekaterina Sustretkova in the sin-bin.
