Lori Cramer's penalties on the tick of halftime and just before fulltime were enough to secure Australia a 13-7 win over Wales on Saturday and advance to the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup.
The teams scored a try apiece in the first half and Cramer made the difference by converting a breakdown penalty secured by Shannon Parry. The second half was scoreless until the 78th minute when Cramer clinched the game with a kick from close range.
Australia, playing with boldness, had earlier passed up several chances to kick penalties in an effort to secure tries. Though they spent almost 10 minutes inside Wales' 22 during the match they were unable to add to their early try.
Halfback Iliseva Batibasaga scored in the fifth minute after a serious defensive misread by Wales. Australia had an attacking scrum, conveyed the ball into midfield and had a series of pick and go's under the posts which were repelled by Wales.
Batibasaga decided to look for a chance wider out but when she picked up the ball and turned away from the ruck she found the Wales defence had already drifted out, leaving a huge gap inside. With only tight forwards to beat, she dashed in under the posts.
