"One thing missing from the test was the airflow over the wing section.

Isn't there some sort of pressure wave on the leading edge and couldn't it have lessoned the effect of the foam strike?

(I remember seeing footage of a candle fired through a piece of plywood. It was the air in front of the candle that actually 'blew' through the plywood.)"

Hmm. There could also have been a wake behind the foam which could cancelled some of the pressure from wing.
Plus in test there could have been enough pressure ahead of foam to reduce the impact force by allowing more distance to decelerate.
I think it a pretty complex problem, think there is some value in keeping it fairly simple.