Wales grind out frustrating WXV win against Japan

WXV Global Series

Japan (0) 0

Wales (7) 17

Tries: Lockwood 2, K Jones Con: Bell

Wales ground out a win over Japan in tricky Tokyo conditions to secure a second victory of their WXV campaign.

Swirling wind, rain and humidity made for a real battle between sides ranked 11th and 12th in the world, with a scrappy first-half looking likely to end scoreless.

But scrum-half Seren Lockwood’s 35th-minute snipe gave the game a much-needed spark and the visitors a 7-0 advantage at the break.

Wales lost centre Freya Bell to a serious-looking knee injury, but the impact of the bench proved the difference as Kelsey Jones drove over off a lineout ball, before Lockwood finished a rare moment of class at the death.

It was far from an impressive performance from Sean Lynn’s resurgent Wales, but given their previous results, his side have now proven the ability to win ugly.

The two sides will meet again in Kumagaya City next Saturday.

More to follow.

How they lined up

Japan: Nishi; Tsunokawa, Langford, Kataoka, Nishimura; Tsukui (capt), Harada; Komaki, Nagaoka, Kitano, Kawamura, Sato, Asari, Korai, Bodman.

Replacements: Nagata, Yoshida, Fuji, Yoshimura, Jennifer, Seo, Ito, Havili Kagawa.

Sin bin: Asari (6 mins), Yoshida (76 mins)

Wales: Neumann; N Metcalfe, Cox, Bell, A Williams; Bevan, Lockwood; M Davies, K Jones, Tuipulotu, B Metcalfe, Aiono, K Williams (co-capt), Callender (co-capt), King.

Replacements: Reardon, Pyrs, E Jones, Crabb, G Evans, B Lewis, George, Keight.

Referee: Julianne Zussman (Canada).

Assistant referees: Sunny Lee (Hong Kong China) & Hibiki Ikeda (Japan).

TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China).