Women's Six Nations: Wales 15-22 Italy

Wales have now lost three successive Six Nations matches

Wales suffered a third successive Six Nations defeat as Italy celebrated a bonus point victory in the Principality Stadium double-header.

The Italian women followed the victory by their Under-20s side at Colwyn Bay.

It was the Italians first victory of the 2018 campaign thanks to tries from Isabella Locatelli, Maria Magatti, Beatrice Rigoni and Michela Sillari.

Wales responded with tries from Alisha Butchers and Sioned Harries but had three players yellow-carded.

The match was being played at the Principality Stadium as part of a double-header before the men's match with more than 11,000 watching before the game concluded, just the second time Wales had played at the national stadium.

Head coach Rowland Phillips made four changes in the backline with Olympian Jaz Joyce, Keira Bevan, Wilkins and Hannah Jones included from the start.

Italy dominated the early exchanges and scored the first try through Locatelli in the ninth minute. Sillari added the conversion.

Wales only sprung into life in the second quarter following a break from centre Kerin Lake with Wilkins slotting over a penalty to reduce the deficit.

The hosts were inspired by this and an incisive break from number eight Harries laid the platform for an unconverted try for fellow back-rower Butchers to give Wales the lead.

Joyce showed the pace that resulted in her being part of the Team GB sevens at the Rio 2016 Olympics with a 50-metre burst.

However, Italy responded with a well-worked scrum move with wing Magatti diving over as the visitors led 12-8 at half-time.

Italy continued their superiority in the second-half as a break from Veronica Madia allowed centre Rigoni to score.

Wales received a further blow when second-row Mel Clay was yellow carded by French referee Marie Lematte for driving through a lineout.

The home side were reduced to 13 players temporarily when Butchers was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.

Joyce lifted Welsh spirits with another lung-busting run and Harries reduced the deficit with a short-range effort following a quick tap penalty from captain Carys Phillips.

Wilkins added a touchline conversion to reduce the deficit to two points.

However, Harries was controversially yellow carded for not releasing on her own line but the Wales back-rower claimed she was allowed to get up by the Italians. That was the final blow to Wales' hopes of a dramatic comeback.

Italy signed off in style with a bonus point try from centre Sillari although her missed conversion meant Wales finished with a losing bonus point.

Wales won their opening match against Scotland before the trio of defeats against England, Ireland and now Italy.

Wales finish their campaign against France in Colwyn Bay on Friday, 16 March while Italy host Scotland the following day.

Wales coach Rowland Phillips told BBC Sport Wales: "We got punished, discipline-wise and I will have to look back at that, we got hammered on the penalties and you will never win games like that.

"With the penalty count we could never get a foothold. Parts of the game were good for us, parts were not.

"But I will need to have a calmer look of the game before I assess it.

"It was a great occasion to play at the stadium, it was a shame we couldn't match it with the result."

Wales: Hannah Jones (Scarlets); Jaz Joyce (Scarlets), Kerin Lake (Ospreys), Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys), Jess Kavanagh-Williams (RGC); Elinor Snowsill (Dragons), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Scarlets), Carys Philips (c) (Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Beth Lewis (Scarlets), Sioned Harries (Scarlets).

Replacements: Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Gwenllian Pyrs (RGC), Meg York (Dragons), Natalia John (Ospreys), Nia Elen Davies (Scarlets), Jade Knight (Scarlets), Alecs Donovan (Ospreys), Lisa Neumann (Scarlets).

Italy: Manuela Furlan; Sofia Stefan, Michela Sillarri, Beatrice Rignoni, Maria Magatti; Veronica Madia, Sara Barattin; Gaia Giacomoli, Melissa Bettoni, Luica Gai, Valentina Ruzza, Giordana Duca, Giada Franco, Isabella Locatelli, Elisa Giordano.

Replacements: Silvia Turani, Eleonora Ricci, Michela Merlo, Elisa Pillotti, Ilaria Arrighetti, Beatrice Veronese, Jessica Busato, Aura Muzzo.

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