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 THE IFWLA World Cup in 2005 was held at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
Reigning European women's champions Wales were placed in a tough group alongside tournament favourites and hosts, USA, as well as Australia, England and Canada.
Despite some superb performances, including a narrow 6-2 defeat by England, Wales finished fifth in Pool A and faced Japan, surprise winners of Pool B, in the cross-over phase which decided seedings for the knockout stages.
Japan overcame the Welsh challenge, leaving Wales to face their old foe England in the quarter finals. The encounter was a titanic struggle, widely reported as the best game of championships, in which England opened the scoring early but failed to dominate their celtic opponents as they might have expected.
Indeed, Wales were on top for long periods of the game, as a brace from Sian Astley, goals from Ros Lloyd, Kate Taylor and a late late equaliser from Laura Warren took the score to 5-5 and the game into overtime.
With the momentum firmly with Wales, England edged in front in controversial cirumstances at the end of the first period, Lucy Lynch's shot appearing not to have crossed the goalline when the horn blew for the end of the period.
Despite laying siege to the England goal, and three free shots, Wales could find no way through a stout English backline and missed out on a semi-final place against USA 6-5.
That defeat left Wales with a second chance to overcome Japan in the fifth Place play-off. Sadly, they were not to find the form which had presented England with such problems and ended their tournament with a repeat of the 8-12 scoreline from the cross-over phase.
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