Brython Thunder 33-14 Edinburgh Rugby
Brython Thunder surged to a 33-14 win over Edinburgh at Parc y Scarlets to keep their Celtic Challenge play-off hopes very much alive. In completing the double over the Scots, the Welsh side have now won two games on the bounce and have found some real momentum with a top four spot at stake.
Thunder hooker Rhian Bowden, scrum-half Seren Lockwood, a penalty try and wing Seren Singleton’s superb solo effort off her wing secured the bonus-point triumph. Thunder are now in fifth place in the standings with an eye firmly on the semi-finals.
The home side opened the scoring when a kick through from fly-half Ffion Williams set up a five-metre line-out, with hooker Bowden then driven over by her pack. Edinburgh hit back just before the half hour mark through fly-half Nicole Marlow, but Thunder snatched back the lead when a solid line-out set up the platform for Lockwood to throw a dummy and dive over.
It got better for the home side just before the break when a brilliant attack from inside their own half led to Wales flanker Branwen Metcalfe tearing down the wing and feeding Singleton on her inside only for the winger to be denied a try by a high tackle metres out that saw Edinburgh reduced to 14 players and Thunder awarded a penalty try.
Leading 19-7 at half-time, the hosts extended their lead when wing Singleton picked up the ball on the floor before embarking on a meandering run to the try line. Edinburgh refused to roll over, though, and a surging run from the skipper Hannah Walker set up Adelle Ferrie’s close-range effort.
Thunder rode the momentum shift with the bench breathing some fresh life, and it was replacement prop Stella Orrin’s barnstorming run which set up front foot ball and allowed Lockwood to expose Edinburgh’s tiring defence by throwing another dummy and darting over for her second.
Player of the Match: Jorja Aiono (Brython Thunder)
Gwalia Lightning 14-19 Clovers
Gwalia Lightning still need to secure a play-off place after their return home saw them go down to Irish side Clovers in Round 7 of the Celtic Challenge at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday afternoon.
The Lightning were third in the league table and two points behind Clovers with a top four play-off place in the Welsh side’s sight. The Welsh side have three games to claim a play-off place in the new expanded Celtic Challenge and the losing point could be vital.
The Lightning are one of the favourites to finish in the top four and will need to get back to winning ways to secure home semi-final. Gwalia went in 12-0 behind at half-time in this top of the table clash with replacement wing Courtney Greenway, prop Evie Hill
Teenage scrum half Lily Hawkins made her for start for Gwalia Lightning and was at the heart of bright opening by the home side. But it was the Clovers after a sustained period of pressure that finally made the breakthrough when full back Aoife Corey crossed for the try.
Clover extended their lead midway through the first half when centre Alana McInerney split the homes side’s defence to race in a second score. Fly half half Siofra Hession added the conversion to make it 12-0 to the visitors. Centre Molly Anderson Thomas split the visitors defence with a 40m solo break for the home side to begin a rally.
Lock Alaw Pyrs was hauled down just short of the line and Clovers went in 12-0 ahead at half-time.
After the break, Lightning brough they trademark physical edge to proceedings but Clovers crossed for a third try by centre Niamh Murphy. Hession added the extras to make it 19-0 before replacement wing Greenway clawed the home side back into the game with a try.
Fly half Hughes added the conversion to make it 19-7 midway through the second period to make it a 12-point deficit. Prop Hill then crashed over after a series of drives on Clovers line to scored a second try. Hughes added the conversion to make it 19-14.
The home side battled for their losing bonus point and still have all to play for with three games to play.
Player of the Match: Alana McInerney (Clovers)
Glasgow Warriors 26-42 Wolfhounds
Current Celtic Challenge competition leaders Wolfhounds maintained their unbeaten winning run after defeating Glasgow Warriors 26-42 in wet conditions at Scotstoun Stadium this afternoon.
Katie Corrigan opened the account for Wolfhounds as Abby Moyles drilled an accurate kick out to the wing, with Corrigan collecting before racing over the line and Moyles converting the score (0-7).
The game ebbed and flowed for the next ten minutes, with persistent rain making the conditions challenging for both sides.
Warriors were able to bring the game back to a level as Briar McNamara managed to puncture her way through the Wolfhounds’ defence, evading several defenders, before sprinting down the midfield to score, with Millie Warren adding the extras (7-7).
Wolfhounds upped the intensity in the last ten minutes of the first-half, with Megan Burns taking advantage of a loose ball to bring the visitors into the Warriors’ 22m line.
With pressure building, Wolfhounds bounced back into the lead as captain Erin King crashed over to score, with Moyles adding the extras (7-14).
The Irish side strengthened their position in the game when King successfully charged down a kick deep inside the hosts’ territory and went thundering towards the line, with the ball eventually finding Naoise Smith who dotted down, with Moyles capping it off with another successful conversion (7-21).
The current table-toppers had the upper hand in the early exchanges of the second-half and were able to make their way into the Warriors’ 22, putting pressure on the hosts’ defence from the get-go.
Seeking another score, a solid scrum provided the platform for King to pick up the ball and power towards the line but it was Fiona Tuite who crossed over to secure the bonus point, with Moyles continuing to be successful with the boot (7-28).
Despite a gutsy defensive effort from Glasgow Warriors, Wolfhounds were relentless in their pursuit of another score and were able to eventually grab their fifth try through the unstoppable King, with Moyles finding success on the tee once again (7-35).
Warriors, who have rallied repeatedly in their second-half performances in recent matches, started to mount their comeback once again and were able to grab their second score of the game when Aicha Sutcliffe fired over from close range (12-35).
The hosts battled valiantly and their efforts came to fruition as some hard carries brought Warriors’ inching towards the try line, with Emily Coubrough eventually spotting the gap and dotting down on the whitewash and Warren nailing the conversion (19-35).
With ten minutes left, Warriors were on the hunt for a fourth score to secure a vital try bonus-point but Wolfhounds reasserted their control in the game with Aoibheann Reilly sniping her way through the defence before accelerating down the pitch to score, with Moyles keeping her 100% kicking record with another conversion (19-42).
With time running out, Warriors were starting to pose a threat again and were desperate to clinch the last score of the game. Their patience soon paid off as a fantastic interception from Warren saw the centre put her foot on the gas and cruise in under the posts to score and claim the try bonus-point as the clock went dead. Warren was able to cap off her score with a successful conversion to bring the game to an end (26-42).
Speaking after full-time, Glasgow Warriors Women Head Coach Lindsey Smith said: “Frustrating start again but what I think we are good at is staying in the fight. I like our determination to get four tries but I’d prefer we didn’t leave it until the end.
“I’m pleased with some areas of our performance but again we still have some things we need to sharpen up on to get a more complete 80 minute performance.”
Player of the Match: Erin King (Wolfhounds)
