Lightning's Celtic Challenge title hopes ended by Wolfhounds loss
Celtic Challenge Cup
Gwalia Lightning (0) 17
Tries: Parry, King, Lewis Cons: Hughes
Wolfhounds (41) 48
Tries: Boles (3), Tarpey, Kinlan (2), Higgins, Corrigan Cons: O'Brien (2)
The Wolfhounds moved one step closer to defending their Celtic Challenge title as they ended Gwalia Lightning's title hopes in a try-packed 80 minutes in Ystrad Mynach.
The Wolfhounds ran in seven tries in the first half, as they put Lightning under relentless pressure.
Wolfhounds captain Claire Boles scored the first try for the Irish side, before centre Leah Tarpey finished a break-away try under Lightning's sticks.
A third try for Wolfhounds came inside the first fifteen minutes, wing Vicky Elmes Kinlan moving the Irish side into a healthy 17-0 lead.
The bonus point was wrapped up soon after as Eve Higgins crossed before Boles scored her second try of the game seven minutes before the break.
There was still time for wing Katie Corrigan to get involved in the try-scoring action, and for Boles to score her hat-trick try before half-time.
Kinlan's second try of the game put Wolfhounds 48-0 up, before Gwalia finally showed some resistance.
Rhodd Parry got Gwalia on the board with their first try of the game, and Lightning captain Bryonie King added a second try for the hosts under the posts.
Gwalia wing Caitlin Lewis scored the game's final try, but the result had long been decided.
Elsewhere, Clovers' win over Edinburgh means the 2024-25 Celtic Challenge will be won by one of the two Irish sides.
Gwalia will finish the season in third place, regardless of results in the final round of fixtures.
They can, however, dent Clovers' title hopes, when they host the Irish side at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday, 8 March.
Wolfhounds can seal the title with victory on the same day against Edinburgh at Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin.
Gwalia Lightning captain Bryonie King told BBC Sport Wales:
"We're really disappointed with how the first half went, but I couldn't be more proud of the girls for how we came out in the second half.
"As a team we are disappointed, we know what we are capable of and that second half showed it.
"Now there's a lot of work-ons for next week and we'll be ready for the fight against Clovers."
Gwalia Lightning: Jenny Hesketh; Courtney Greenway, Kelsie Webster, Molly Anderson-Thomas, Caitlin Lewis; Carys Hughes, Sian Jones; Maisie Davies, Molly Wakely, Cana Williams, Paige Jones, Alaw Pyrs, Lily Terry, Catrin Stewart, Bryonie King (capt).
Replacements: Molly Reardon, Dali Hopkins, Jenni Scoble, Erin Jones, Lottie Buffery-Latham, Katie Bevans, Freya Bell, Rhodd Parry.
Wolfhounds: Amy Larn; Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Eve Higgins, Leah Tarpey, Katie Corrigan; Dannah O'Brien, Jade Gaffney; Niamh O'Dowd, Maebh Clenaghan, Christy Haney, Fiona Tuite, Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair, Claire Boles (capt), Molly Boyne, Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Kelly Burke, Tricia Doyle, Sophie Mcallister, Alma Atagmen, Poppy Garvey, Katie Whelan, Lauren Farrell McCabe, Anna Doyle.
Jones retains Wales captaincy under new coach Lynn
Ex-Wales coach Cunningham takes charge of Fiji Women
Glasgow Warriors v Brython Thunder
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium Date: Saturday 1 March Kick-off: 15:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online.
Thunder have made eight changes as they look to bounce back from a 16-try defeat to Clovers last time out.
Seasoned Wales international Gwen Crabb has been drafted in from Gloucester-Hartpury to bolster the forwards, with captain Natalia John still sidelined by injury.
Jess Rogers returns to lead the side at number eight and is joined in the back row by Danai Mugabe and Lucy Issac.
Props Stella Orin and Cadi-Lois Davies pack down with Chloe Gant in the front row.
Niamh Terry is named at fly-half and partners scrum half Seren Singleton at half-back, while Hannah Bluck and Gabby Healan are preferred as centre.
Hannah Lane starts at full-back with Ellie Tromans moving to the wing alongside Eleanor Hing.
"We are a young and exciting squad who have showed real resilience and character at this level against sides full of international rugby players," said Thunder head coach Ashley Beck.
"Glasgow are tough opposition on their home patch, but we are ready for the challenge and looking forward to putting in a performance to represent the jersey."
Glasgow Warriors: Poppy Mellanby; Abi Evans, Nicole Flynn, Briar McNamara, Orla Proctor; Ceitidh Ainsworth, Mairi McDonald (capt); Poppy Fletcher, Megan Hyland, Eilidh Fleming, Aisha Zameer, Kate Yeomans, Freya Walker, Eilidh Macgilvray, Emily Courbrough.
Replacements: Aicha Sutcliffe, Ailie Tucker, Alex Ward, Rowann Sinclair, Sophie Price, Rianna Darroch, Millie Warren, Roma Fraser.
Brython Thunder: Hannah Lane; Ellie Tromans, Hannah Bluck, Gabby Healan, Eleanor Hing; Niamh Terry, Seren Singleton; Stella Orrin, Chloe Gant, Cadi-Lois Davies, Robyn Davies, Gwen Crabb, Danai Mugabe, Lucy Isaac, Jess Rogers (capt).
Replacements: Rosie Carr, Lowri Williams, Katie Carr, Catrin Jones, Anna Stowell, Bethan Adkins, Hanna Marshall, Ffion Davies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Notre Dame softball commit Ava Zachary named Miss Softball Indiana
Future Fighting Irish infielder hit over .500 en route to award A Notre Dame softball signee has been named Indiana's Miss Softball. Ava Zachary hit .543 with 60 RBI in 32 games for Penn High School in Mishawaka, Ind. She's the first player from Penn to win the state's highest award for a softball player. Mishawaka, of course, is in the South Bend area, so Zachary will be staying close to home when she heads to Notre Dame's campus. The left-handed hitting Zachary plays third base and she helped lead Penn to a 2023 state championship. She's been a four-time First-Team All-Northern Indiana Conference selection. 'It means everything,' Zachary told her school paper, The Pennant. 'It's such a surreal moment. I'm super grateful for this opportunity and the opportunity that Penn softball has given me the past four years. It was an amazing moment to stand up there with all the other amazing talent in Indiana and to hear my name be read. This is so much more than an individual award. It's an award for all the girls at Penn who have ever played Softball, and all the girls who played next to me the last four years and worked so hard and gave such a great effort every day.' 'This award just means I have to get back to work, Zachary said. "I have to work 10 times harder now and work to get better day-in and day-out.' Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Tim on X: @tehealey
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Notre Dame offered Teddy Jarrard and Peyton Houston, the first 2027 QB's to get one
While Notre Dame football is on another one of its recruiting hot streaks in the 2026 cycle, that doesn't mean they aren't looking ahead to future classes. That's exactly what happened on Saturday, as the Irish offered two quarterbacks scholarships, their first one's of the 2027 cycle. The first one went out to Teddy Jarrard, a 6-foot, 3-inch and 190-pound Georgia native. He's currently ranked as the No. 217 overall prospect in the class by the 247Sports Composite, and also has offers from Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and multiple others. The other quarterback to get an offer was Peyton Houston, a 5-foot, 11-inch and 198-pound prospect out of Louisiana. He's ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the country's No. 85 player, and not surprisingly has an LSU offer among others. The Irish would surely love to stick it to former head coach Brian Kelly, as in just three short years Marcus Freeman has proved that he was wrong about his assessment of the Notre Dame program. You have to like where the Irish are starting off on their 2027 quarterback recruiting, as both of these offers are to high-level players who have tons of ability. More will surely be offered in the coming months, but it has to mean a lot to each of them that Notre Dame first offers to that class for the position were Jarrard and Houston.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Joey O'Brien's dad praises Carter Auman, Notre Dame's director of recruiting Carter Auman
Notre Dame's recruiting week has been nothing short of sensational. After landing offensive tackle Grayson McKeogh, the Fighting Irish added cornerback Khary Adams and safety Joey O'Brien to their 2026 class. Just massive beat out Penn State, Clemson and Oregon for O'Brien, who is the 19th player in this haul. This class is clearly the best yet for Marcus Freeman and his staff, and they are not done yet. Specifically, the secondary pledges are outstanding, as O'Brien, Adams and safety Ayden Pouncey are considered some of the best players at their positions. Is Notre Dame becoming DB U? One big reason for the program's success on the recruiting trail: Carter Auman. O'Brien's father had high praise for ND's director of recruiting as Kyle Kelly reported. "Carter Auman is the best recruiter out there, man," he said. "He's a great kid. We think the world of him. It's just great people there at Notre Dame." This 2026 class is another reminder that the Irish aren't going anywhere away from the national stage as they look to become annual College Football Playoff contenders. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave
