Glasgow Warriors 17-22 Edinburgh Rugby
Despite a valiant effort throughout the competition, the result means that Glasgow Warriors miss out on a spot at the Celtic Challenge play-offs and finish the season fifth on the table.
Warriors came firing out the blocks as a knock-on from Edinburgh was collected by Briar McNamara, with the centre bringing the side deep into the capital’s territory. After several phases, possession was eventually lost as Catriona Moody managed to intercept a short pass, giving the visitors some breathing space in the opening exchanges.
Shortly afterwards, the capital side opened the scoring as the ball moved quick through the hands, providing the perfect platform for Hannah Walker to sprint into the corner (0-5).
Edinburgh were almost back on the scoreboard moments later as Cieron Bell raced towards the corner but the winger was bundled into touch following a try-saving tackle from McNamara.
The capital side were able to build on the pressure and soon found space as an initial break from Moody saw the side thunder into Glasgow’s 22, before the ball eventually found Bethan Mathieson who darted into the corner (0-10).
The visitors had another opportunity to add points to the board before the break after being awarded a penalty, however, Nicole Marlow’s attempt fell short.
Warriors enjoyed a brighter start after the interval, as the side came firing out the blocks with Sophie Murphy puncturing through the Edinburgh defence to scurry in underneath the posts, with Millie Warren adding the extras (7-10).
Edinburgh were able to extend their lead on the 60th minute as Moody crashed over the line to score, with Marlow slotting the conversion through the posts (7-17).
The hosts retaliated when a slick inside pass from McNamara saw Millie Warren cruise through Edinburgh’s defence before dotting down over the line, with the centre converting her own score (14-17).
With ten minutes remaining, Warriors launched another charging attack as several quick phases lifted the home crowd again for a short period of pressure.
The hosts efforts were rewarded when the side were awarded a penalty that was within sight of the posts. Opting to go for the posts, Warren kept her composure to slot the ball through the uprights, levelling the score in the final moments of the match (17-17).
There was heartbreak as the clock went dead, however, as Edinburgh rallied and snatched victory when Kaylee Fraser powered over the line for the last score of the match (17-22).
FULL-TIME: Glasgow Warriors 17-22 Edinburgh Rugby
Reflecting on the season, Glasgow Warriors Women Head Coach Lindsey Smith said: “I’m just incredibly proud of all the players. We are the only team to have taken a try bonus point against Wolfhounds and people wouldn’t have predicted that at the start of the season.
“Ultimately, there is a lot of praise for the players who have stuck-in all season and believed in everything I’ve asked them to do. There is so much heart in that team and this feels like just the beginning.”
Player of the Match: Hannah Ramsay (Edinburgh Rugby)
Wolfhounds 43-20 Clovers
Both semi-finals will take place at Connacht Rugby’s Dexcom Stadium on Saturday, March 21, with Brython Thunder the opponents for Neill Alcorn’s charges, who are bidding for their third straight title, and the Denis Fogarty-coached Clovers facing Gwalia Lightning.
The Wolfhounds produced one of their best first halves of the year, as tries from Grace Moore, India Daley (2), Niamh Marley, Erin King, and Robyn O’Connor gave them a commanding 36-0 half-time lead.
The second-placed Clovers, who were on a seven-match winning run, were poor in defence, but improved during the second period, taking some momentum into the last-four thanks to late tries from replacement Katie Whelan and Anna McGann.
McGann bagged a brace, as did new Ireland captain King who had cancelled out Béibhinn Parsons’ 44th-minute opener for the visitors. The Wolfhounds ended the game down to 14 players following Maebh Clenaghan’s red card in the 69th minute, having also had Regan Casey sin-binned.
Returning to the scene of last season’s superb 31-10 victory over their Irish rivals, the Clovers made seven changes to the team that beat Edinburgh last week, bringing in McGann, Alana McInerney, Kate Flannery, Emily Lane, Siobhán McCarthy, Sadhbh McGrath, and Ailish Quinn.
Wolfhounds head coach Alcorn retained most of the side that had handed Gwalia a comprehensive 52-7 defeat in round 9, with Moore – making her first Celtic Challenge appearance in two years – the most notable inclusion. Full-back Amy Larn formed a new back-three with O’Connor and Marley.
Parsons provided the early electricity with a fine surge on the standside, before her international team-mate O’Brien impressed with ball in hand and her accurate left boot, a crucial tool in dictating how the opening 40 minutes played out.
It took just five minutes for the Wolfhounds to capitalise on the territory, with Daley first to a loose Clovers lineout. Linda Djougang powered up close to the try-line before Moore’s quick pick saw her drive over beside the posts.
O’Brien made it a full seven-pointer, but her radar was off when missing touch after O’Connor had drawn a high tackle. Centre McInerney’s interception allowed the Clovers to regain some lost ground.
However, the defending champions, with the excellent Eve Higgins pinballing her way out of tackles, were beginning to exert more control. King’s turnover penalty had them back in scoring range, and poised to strike.
Daley duly broke off the resulting lineout maul to put a dozen points between the teams, 16 minutes in. Sophie Barrett stopped the Clovers in their tracks with a well-won penalty at the breakdown, and despite Enya Breen’s kick splitting the hosts’ back-field, O’Brien’s thumping response found a brilliant touch.
When the Wolfhounds countered from another kick in the 25th minute, they were clinical in putting Marley away down the left wing. Higgins’ clever diagional run, combined with Larn’s draw and pass, released the Armagh native from 20 metres out, as the Clovers fell 17 points behind.
Barely three minutes later, O’Brien used a busy set of attacking phases to dummy her way inside Clovers captain Ruth Campbell, offloading out the back for Daley to gleefully gobble up the bonus point by charging in under the posts. O’Brien’s extras made it 24-0.
Defensive lapses and missed tackles were proving costly for Fogarty’s side, who failed to profit from a Faith Oviawe break. In addition, they had some disruption with injuries to vice-captain Lane and Aoibheann McGrath, two of their most influential players in this season’s competition.
It got worse for them when Aoife Dalton and Higgins’ defence-slashing combination had the Wolfhounds on the prowl again. Parsons got back to deny the latter, but King was unstoppable from Aoibheann Reilly’s swift set-up. O’Brien converted from the right.
Despite Beth Buttimer doing well to win turnover ball, Naoise Smyth stole her next lineout throw, and the Wolfhounds turned it into try number six. Higgins took on the Clovers midfield again, feeding O’Connor who used her strength and speed to score from the edge of the 22.
With Lane back on, the Clovers showed signs of revival just before the interval, with direct running from Jemima Adams Verling and replacement Aoibhe O’Flynn making encouraging metres. McGann was bundled into touch at the end of a late attacking spell, though.
Undoubtedly fired up by Fogarty’s half-time words, the Clovers opened their account within four minutes of the restart. McInerney and Breen led a key counter ruck, and the forwards forced a couple of penalties before Lane put Parsons over in the left corner.
The Wolfhounds hit back in the 48th minute, Higgins’ breakdown work leading to a lineout near the left corner and the momentum was built for King to crash in under the posts, past Flannery and Breen. O’Brien landed her fourth conversion for a 43-5 scoreline.
Nonetheless, the table toppers then suffered a couple of setbacks in quick succession. After scrum half Reilly hobbled off with an injury, they dealt with a couple of Clovers attacks until Breen spun out of a tackle, linking with the onrushing Aoife Corey who sent McGann over out wide.
The Clovers had a numerical advantage soon after, as replacement Casey saw yellow for not rolling away following a promising Niamh Murphy break. They were unable to force a third try during that period, with prop McCarthy held up, and Vicky Elmes Kinlan earning a turnover penalty.
A neat move between O’Brien, captain Dalton, who was becoming increasingly influential, and Higgins almost led to a Wolfhounds score off first-phase ball, yet they were soon rocked by Clenaghan’s dismissal.
After Buttimer held onto Clenaghan’s leg near a ruck, a scuffle between them developed. Referee Shane Gaughan reached for his red card due to Clenaghan, who was chased by Buttimer, turning and striking out. He concluded that there was a ‘high degree of danger and contact with the face’.
The Clovers went on to double their tally during the closing stages, with Breen and Whelan controlling matters from half-back. It was Whelan who unlocked the defence in the 75th minute, picking from the base of a scrum to scorch over from the Wolfhounds’ 22-metre line.
Following an exchange of turnover penalties between King and Quinn, the Clovers moved downfield again thanks to a scrum penalty. Corey and O’Flynn both carried well, the quick ruck ball leading to winger McGann – teed up by Breen – finishing one-handed in the right corner.
Player of the Match: Dannah O’Brien (Wolfhounds)
Brython Thunder 7-0 Gwalia Lightning
Brython Thunder won the bragging rights with this win against Gwalia Lightning in the Welsh derby in Round 10 of the Celtic Challenge at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday afternoon.
The clash between the two sides in the cross-border league, between teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, celebrated International Women’s Day.
Both Welsh teams had already qualified for the Celtic Challenge semi-finals before kick off after Edinburgh beat Glasgow Warriors on Friday night in Glasgow
Thunder and Lightning will travel to face Ireland to face the Irish sides in the semi-finals in Galway in two weeks.
Lightning will play Clovers, while Thunder will play Wolfhounds in the play-offs.
Thunder came into this Welsh derby on the back of a four-match winning streak, while Gwalia Lightning were looking for their first win in four games.
Thunder needed a bonus-point win to move to third in the table and avoid the reigning back-to-back champions, Wolfhounds, in the semis.
But in a hard-fought and bruising clash a try by Wales backrower Branwen Metcalfe, converted by Hanna Marshall, was the difference between the sides.
There were 14 Welsh internationals in the starting line-ups of both sides and the intensity and physicality reflected that.
Wales international Lisa Neumann was a late withdrawal for Thunder due to illness and was replaced by Ellie Tromans at full back.
There were 14 Wales Test stars on show in the Thunder and Lightning starting line-ups for the second Welsh derby of this campaign.
The home side dominated territory and possession in the opening exchanges before Wales backrower Metcalfe drove over for the try.
Fly half Marshall added the conversion to make it 7-0 after 15 minutes and were well worth the early lead.
Flanker Lucy Isaac then crossed for a second try for Thunder after a mix-up in the visitor’s defence but it was ruled out by the officials.
Wing Seren Singleton was then stopped short of the line as home side launched wave after wave of attack.
Lightning then went down to 14 players when Wales lock Abbie Fleming was yellow carded for a succession of team penalties and Thunder went in 7-0 at half-time.
After the break, Gwalia started like a different team in a closely fought tussle between the Welsh rivals.
Lightning introduced club skipper Bryonie King off the bench and both sides went toe-to-toe in a physical contest but could not find the openings to add to the scoreline.
The finale saw Brython Thunder go down to 13 players due to two yellow cards for replacement Jess Rogers and wing Seren Singloton, but the home side secured the win.
Player of the Match: Brenwen Metcalfe (Brython Thunder)
