Latest news with #CelticChallengeGwaliaLightning
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nine-try Clovers beat Lightning in Celtic finale
Celtic Challenge Gwalia Lightning (12) 33 Tries: Hopkins, Lewis, Webster, Pyrs, Bell Cons: Hughes 4 Clovers (34) 55 Tries: Barrett, Nic a Bháird 2, Oviawe, Reilly, Buttimer, McGann, Breen, Adams Cons: Fowley 3, Finn 2 Irish side Clovers ensured a second-place Celtic Challenge finish as they won comfortably with a nine-tries-to-five win against hosts Gwalia Lightning at Ystrad Mynach. Lightning finished third in the table after conceding six first-half tries and three more after the break, five of which were converted. After Sophie Barrett's opener, Gwennan Hopkins hit back. Clovers went back in front through Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, with Faith Oviawe adding their third. Scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly went over for the visitors' bonus-point try and Lightning responded with wing Caitlin Lewis' interception score. But Clovers underlined their first-half superiority with Nic a Bháird's second score before Beth Buttimer crossed for their sixth, giving them a 34-12 lead at the break. Gwalia's impressive response brought touchdowns for Kelsie Webster and Alaw Pyrs to earn a bonus point. But Clovers' Anna McGann, who scored a hat-trick against Edinburgh last week, was on the hunt for another Irish try and got it, with Jemima Adams and captain Enya Breen also going over. Gwalia's Freya Bell scored the final try, but the result had long been decided. Elsewhere, defending champions Wolfhounds beat Edinburgh 102-0 to successfully retain the title. Gwalia captain Bryonie King told BBC Sport Wales: "The Irish teams have a lot of internationals playing for them, and we know what they can do and how much damage they can cause. "I did think we showed a point out there as Gwalia, we stayed in the fight until the very end and we came away with a try to finish the game off, so we are proud of that. "We aimed for that top spot, second spot, but overall we are happy with where we are, it is a massive point proven on how talented Welsh rugby is. I'm so proud to be a part of Gwalia." Gwennan Hopkins added: "Both Irish sides are professional and they are contracted, so that physicality is massive. It is definitely a work-on for us. It's something we can key point and breakthrough for next season. "We are all really young, and we have been playing on the pathway together and now some of us are getting to the national squad. It's building those relationships on and off the field, and it has been great we are as close off the field, as we are on the field. "That's really special because by the end of the season you are playing for the girls not just for Gwalia."
BBC News
08-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Nine-try Clovers beat Lightning in Celtic finale
Celtic ChallengeGwalia Lightning (12) 33Tries: Hopkins, Lewis, Webster, Pyrs, Bell Cons: Hughes 4Clovers (34) 55Tries: Barrett, Nic a Bháird 2, Oviawe, Reilly, Buttimer, McGann, Breen, Adams Cons: Fowley 3, Finn 2 Irish side Clovers ensured a second-place Celtic Challenge finish as they won comfortably with a nine-tries-to-five win against hosts Gwalia Lightning at Ystrad finished third in the table after conceding six first-half tries and three more after the break, five of which were Sophie Barrett's opener, Gwennan Hopkins hit back. Clovers went back in front through Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, with Faith Oviawe adding their third. Scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly went over for the visitors' bonus-point try and Lightning responded with wing Caitlin Lewis' interception Clovers underlined their first-half superiority with Nic a Bháird's second score before Beth Buttimer crossed for their sixth, giving them a 34-12 lead at the impressive response brought touchdowns for Kelsie Webster and Alaw Pyrs to earn a bonus Clovers' Anna McGann, who scored a hat-trick against Edinburgh last week, was on the hunt for another Irish try and got it, with Jemima Adams and captain Enya Breen also going Freya Bell scored the final try, but the result had long been defending champions Wolfhounds beat Edinburgh 102-0 to successfully retain the title. Gwalia captain Bryonie King told BBC Sport Wales:"The Irish teams have a lot of internationals playing for them, and we know what they can do and how much damage they can cause. "I did think we showed a point out there as Gwalia, we stayed in the fight until the very end and we came away with a try to finish the game off, so we are proud of that."We aimed for that top spot, second spot, but overall we are happy with where we are, it is a massive point proven on how talented Welsh rugby is. I'm so proud to be a part of Gwalia."Gwennan Hopkins added:"Both Irish sides are professional and they are contracted, so that physicality is massive. It is definitely a work-on for us. It's something we can key point and breakthrough for next season."We are all really young, and we have been playing on the pathway together and now some of us are getting to the national squad. It's building those relationships on and off the field, and it has been great we are as close off the field, as we are on the field. "That's really special because by the end of the season you are playing for the girls not just for Gwalia."
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales stars on show for Thunder and Lightning
Celtic ChallengeGwalia Lightning v CloversVenue: Ystrad Mynach Date: Saturday, 8 March Kick off: 12:00 GMTBrython Thunder v Glasgow WarriorsVenue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Sunday, 9 March Kick off: 12:00 GMTCoverage: Watch live on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, followed by report Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder will be looking to end their Celtic Challenge season on a high in the final last round of games before the start of the 2025 Women's Guinness Six Nations Lightning have had a solid campaign as Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin's squad prepare for a clash with the Clovers this skipper Bryonie King will be one of the players hoping to conclude the tournament on a positive note ahead joining up with the Wales Number 8 will be joined by teammates Gwennan Hopkins, Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon, Jenni Scoble, Alaw Pyrs, Lily Terry, Sian Jones, Kerin Lake, Meg Davies, Cath Richards and Jenny Hesketh in wearing the national GB Sevens player Cath Richards will return to the side after playing in the Perth and Vancouver tournaments to start at full back in one of three changes behind the Williams-Morris takes over on the right wing and Anwen Owens comes in at the pack, Molly Reardon and Jenni Scoble come into a new look front row while Lily Terry moves up into the second row and Hopkins takes over from her in the back row."We've had some good battles already with the powerful Irish sides and I know the players will be relishing the chance to end their campaign against a top quality outfit," said Nicholas-McLaughlin." It will be a chance to lay a marker down for next season as much as anything."We want to put on a good show and I know all the players are highly motivated. We can't finish any higher or lower than third, just like last season, but we can go out with a bang." Meanwhile Brython Thunder will hoping to repeat last weekend's 33-17 victory over Glasgow Beck's side welcome the same opponents to home turf this Sunday, which includes eight Wales Six Nations Squad membersStella Orin, Rosie Carr, Cadi-Lois Davies, Robyn Davies, Gwen Crabb, Lucy Isaac, Hannah Bluck and Niamh Terry looking to give new head coach Sean Lynn some headaches ahead of the has made one change to his backline from last week's game as Hanna Marshall starts at No 10 ahead of Terry. Up front, Rosie Carr returns at hooker in place of Chloe Grant and Catrin Jones replaces Lucy Isaac in the back row."We're looking for a repeat performance to last weekend in a bid to match the three wins we registered in last season's tournament and to finish ahead of Glasgow," said Thunder head coach Beck."We realise they will be smarting from their defeat at home and we can take nothing for granted,""A lot of highly promising young Welsh players have been taken out of their comfort zone throughout this Celtic Challenge, and they will be all the better for it moving forward. Now we want to end on a high to give our fans something to cheer." Line-Ups Brython Thunder: Hannah Lane; Ellie Tromans, Hannah Bluck, Gabby Healan, Eleanor Hing; Hanna Marshall, Seren Singleton; Stella Orrin, Rosie Carr, Cadi Lois Davies, Robyn Davies, Gwen Crabb, Catrin Jones, Danai Mugabe, Jess Rogers (capt)Repslacements: Meg Lewis, Lowri Williams, Katie Carr, Anna Stowell, Rhiannon Griffin, Savannah Picton-Powell, Meg Webb, Ffion DaviesGwalia Lightning: Rhodd Parry; Caitlin Lewis, Carys Williams-Morris, Molly Anderson-Thomas, Courtney Greenway; Carys Hughes, Sian Jones; Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon, Jenni Scoble, Lily Terry, Alaw Pyrs, Katherine Baverstock, Paige Jones, Bryonie King (capt).Replacements: Molly Wakely, Dali Hopkins, Cana Williams, Erin Jones, Lottie Buffery-Latham, Seren Lockwood, Anwen Owen, Lowri Davies.
