Wales Women fought valiantly against France tonight in North Wales, but the visitors came away deserved 38-3 winners - claiming the Grand Slam in the process.

Wales were made to defend hard early on, but acquitted themselves well with some big hits from centre Hannah Jones and tighthead Amy Evans, the latter using her considerable strength on a number of occasions to drive back the French.

France wing Cyrielle Banet received a Welsh kick on halfway in the fifth minute, and stepped the oncoming defender and made a break deep into the home 22, before passing to scrum-half Pauline Bourdon for the try. Fullback Jessy Tremouliere converted from in front of the posts.

Six minutes later, fly-half Caroline Drouin slid through a gap and made a beeline under the Welsh posts for a try, which Tremouliere again converted.

Wales lost influential blindside Alisha Butchers at the start of the second quarter to a leg injury, with Nia Elen Davies replacing her Scarlets teammate.

The hosts had a well-struck Robyn Wilkins penalty to show for their efforts in the 35th minute to make it 14-3. However, with 30 seconds left the French were on the Welsh line and spreading the ball quickly to Tremouliere out wide for the score. The fullback was unable to add the extras to her own try and the half ended 19-3.

Fifty minutes were on the clock when wing Caroline Booujard chipped and looked to regather the ball over the Welsh line. A penalty try to France and a yellow card to Wales followed as the TMO spotted an apparent tackle off the ball.

Wales then saw fullback Hannah Jones, one of their standout performers until that point, depart the field after a knock to the head, having tackled herself to standstill against the rampant French.

Near the hour mark, France replacement back Yanna Rivoalen battled her way over the line for the visitors' fifth try, converted by Tremoulier, with Wales still down to 14 players. 33-3.

No sooner had wing Jess Kavangh-Williams displayed breathtaking speed and determination to chase down a would-be French try-scorer than the visitors had moved the ball to the opposite side of the pitch for an unconverted Carla Neisen try: 38-3.

A last-minute dash into the French half by Kavanagh-Williams offered the promise of a consolatory try, but it wasn't to be and the visitors were proclaimed deserved Grand Slam winners.