Sydney University Football Club’s Iliseva Batibasaga and Lori Cramer scored all of Australia’s points in a 13-7 win over Wales at the 2022 Women’s World Cup being played in New Zealand.
Batibasaga, the Wallaroos halfback crossed for the first try of the match at Whangarei when she darted over under the posts in the fifth minute. Cramer converted and added two penalty goals in their final pool game. Her second penalty goal came off a breakdown penalty courtesy of another SUFC player, Piper Duck.
The gritty win booked a quarter-final berth for Australia against tournament favourites England on Sunday.
Despite running into the wind, the Wallaroos dominated in the first half but were disjointed in attack, going to the halftime break with a 10-7 lead, scoring just one try on 12 visits to the Welsh 22. But they didn’t go on with the job, turning over too much ball in the second half to set up a tense finish and some nervous times for coach Jay Tregonning.
Wallaroos No.8 Grace Hamilton, another SUFC representative, was one of the better players on the field winning player of the match honours, rattling up 16 strong carries into the teeth of the Welsh defence. She now leads that statistic at the tournament.
After being down 41-7 by New Zealand in the opening game of the World Cup, the Wallaroos defeated Scotland 14-12 in their second outing before accounting for Wales. SUFC’s other players in the Wallaroos’ 32-strong squad include flanker Emily Chancellor, lock Sera Naiqama, prop Bridie O’Gorman and hooker Adiana Talakai.
