Spain are smiling this Monday after they won the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship title once again on Saturday.
The Spanish squad were pushed hard by Netherlands in their final match, but came through 27-17 to take the title and set them up nicely for the Rugby World Cup in England later in the year.
Spain knew that a win in the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Torrevieja would see them top the four-team standings unbeaten, but Netherlands knew if they could cause an upset then they would have had a chance to finish top following their last game with Sweden on April 19.
And it was the visitors who got off to a flying start when second-row Inger Jongerius went over for an early unconverted try.
That was in the seventh minute and, by the 10th minute, Spain were on the scoreboard too when back-row Nerea Garcia levelled things up and centre Amalia Argudo converted.
Argudo missed a penalty in the 20th minute, but Spain were on the front foot now and hooker Maria Roman Mallen’s try, converted by Argudo soon after, put them 14 -5 up with a bit of breathing space.
Netherlands missed a penalty eight minutes before half-time, but they showed that they were well in this contest with a converted try just before half-time.
It came from winger Kika Mulling and when stand-off Pleuni Kievit converted it was 14-12 and ‘game on’ with 40 minutes to play.
The start of the second half was cagey before Netherlands scrum-half Esmee Ligtvoet was yellow carded in the 49th minute.
With the extra player on the pitch, Sain managed to score their third try of the day with second-row Lourdes Alameda going over to make it 19- 12 and then Argudo converting for 21-12.
Netherlands missed a penalty with 14 players, but when back to 15 scored a five-pointer via No.8 Linde Van Der Velden to make it 21-17.
That was with 18 minutes to go and Spain had to manage the game well late on to get over the line.
Argudo kicked penalties in 65 and 76 minutes to secure the 27-17 win and the title while Netherlands were left to rue a number of missed kicks, but gave it everything.
In the other match in the same event on Saturday, Portugal picked up their first win of the campaign 38-3 in Trelleborg in Sweden.
They were 15-3 up at half-time and build from there and it means they finish with one win and two defeats while the Swedes still have Netherlands to play and are currently bottom having lost two from two to date.
By Gary Heatly
Photos by Walter Degirolmo
