Gwalia Lightning recorded a fourth victory of the league campaign with this win against Edinburgh in Round 5 of the Celtic Challenge at the Hive Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Wales centre Kerin Lake made her debut for Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge against Edinburgh with lead swapping numerous times during a closely fought contest.
Backrower Lily Terry, hooker Molly Wakely, replacement Gwennan Hopkins and second row Alaw Pyrs crossed for Lightning’s tries. Fly-half Carys Hughes landed the winning conversion before some heroic defence saw the Welsh side come away with the victory and move to second in the table.
Gwalia skipper Bryonie King and fellow Welsh international, Pyrs, were the pick of a Welsh side that, once again, showed their trademark character and resilience during this display.
Both sides were mid-table in the Celtic Challenge ahead of this clash, with Edinburgh below Gwalia, but it was the Scots side that impressed early on with some impressive phase-play combining backs and forwards.
And Edinburgh centre Shona Campbell, a GB Sevens players, turned on the gas out wide and scored the opening try to give the home a 5-0 lead after four minutes of the contest.
Gwalia’s defence was tested but held firm with centre Lake pulling of one key turnover before the Scots side were held up over the visitors line numerous times in a furious attacking spell.
Lake’s influence saw her intercept a pass and from that Gwalia lock Alaw Pyrs split the Edinburgh defence and flanker Lily Terry crossed for the try. Fly half Hughes added the conversion to give the Welsh visitors a 7-5 lead against the run of play midway through the first half.
Lock Erin Jones emulated her second row partner Pyrs with a defence splitting break of her own before hooker Molly Wakely crashed over from short-range for Gwalia’s second try. Hughes added the extras to stretch the visitor’s lead before Edinburgh wing Hannah Walker replied with a try to make it 14-12 at half-time.
After the break, both sides upped the intensity and skill levesl in a frenetic opening to the second half before Edinburgh took the lead. Hooker Aila Ronald took advantage of well-worked lineout drive to cross from short-range to score the Scots third try.
Gwalia hit right back when Welsh international, Gwennan Hopkins, who had come on as a replacement, drove hard to the line for the visitor’s third try to make it 19-17.
Wing Cieron Bell crossed for Edinburgh’s fourth try after a period of pressure to restore the home side’s lead. Fly-half Hughes then make the scores level with a penalty to make it 22-22 midway through the second half.
Wing Walker crossed for her second try of the game to restore Edinburgh’s lead before lock Pyrs finished off an impressive piece of patient and disciplined phase play to level the scores.
Fly-half Hughes landed the conversion before some last ditch defence saw Gwalia hold out for a famous win.
