Gwalia Lightning opened the Celtic Challenge with a narrow 35-31 defeat to Clovers in a superb advert for the cross-border competition in the Round 1 clash away at Energia Park in Dublin on Saturday.
The Welsh side played their part in a ten-try Christmas cracker of a clash where both sides gave as good as they got and with the score switching between the sides.
Gwalia and Clovers both scored five tries each with the visitors underlining their credentials as one of the teams to watch in the Celtic Challenge.
The Welsh side finished third in the league last season and were the only side Ireland’s dominance of the tournament.
Lightning host rivals Brython Thunder in the Welsh Festive derby at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, December 27th (KO: 2pm).
Prop Evie Hill, GB sevens flyer Courtney Greenway, prop Maisie Davies, who crossed for a brace, and Tilly Vucaj all crossed for tries.
The home side opened the scoring after only two minutes when prop Sadhbh McGrath broke free and crashed over after a ten metre burst for the line. Fly half Caitriona Finn added the conversion to make it 7-0 to the Clovers early on.
The Gwalia Lightning scrum proved a weapon for the visitors and a solid defence kept the home side at bay in the opening exchanges.
Wing Caitlin Lewis grabbed an interception to relieve the pressure but was brought down on the halfway line by a desperate Clovers defence.
Centre Niamh Murphy stretched the home side’s lead when she barged over from short range. Finn added the extras to make it 14-0 midway through the first half.
Gwalia Lightning replied straight from the kick off when prop Hill crashed over from a tap penalty to make it 14-5.
The visitors scored their second try after a rampaging run by skipper Bryonie King and some great feet by wing Greenway saw her score in the corner to make it 14-10.
Gwalia then took the lead after a period of pressure when Wales prop Davies powered over for the Welsh side’s third try. Fly half Carys Hughes added the conversion to make it 17-14 to Gwalia Lightning at half time after an entertaining first 40.
After the break, Number 8 Jemima Adams Verling crossed for the home side to give Clovers the lead.
Gwalia hit back with a second try by prop Davies to reclaim the lead for the Welsh side with a 22-24 lead with Hughes adding the extras.
Clovers responded with McGrath powering over under the posts for her second of the day and a bonus point try.
Replacement Aoibheann McGrath did the same for her debut try until lock Tilly Vucaj drove over for a late converted try to claim a second bonus point for Gwalia.
But it was Clovers who ground out the win a vital home win against the Welsh side.
