Celtic Challenger Round 4
Gwalia Lightning(17) 31
try: Greenaway, Lewis, Pierce, Reardon, Hawkins shortcoming: Hughes 2, Hesketh
Edinburgh(12) 17
try: Bale, Ronald, Ramsey shortcoming: McCree
Gwalia Lightning’s impressive performance in the Celtic Challenge continued with a bonus point win over Edinburgh.
Theron Bell opened the scoring in an afternoon spent by the wingers, with the Chargers’ Courtney Greenaway and Kaitlyn Lewis also adding crosses.
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Edinburgh hooker Aila Ronald put the home side back in front before half-time when she lightning-fast sealed the win.
Lightning dominated after the break thanks to an opportunistic strike from player of the match Molly Reardon, while Edinburgh equalized through Hannah Ramsay’s individual effort.
Edinburgh were tied in the late stages but local girl Lily Hawkins had the final say, diving in at the death to seal victory.
The Lightning leapfrog the Wolves into top spot and the defending champions will face Welsh side Brighton Thunder on Sunday.
The hosts showed early intent in their first game of the season at Ystrad Mynach, with prop Evie Hill inches away from scoring the opening goal.
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Edinburgh then took control of the game, going through several phases before being rewarded with a breakaway which created space for Bale on the outside.
The Lightning struck back in the 15th minute, with the forwards drawing defenders through a series of pick-and-rolls before Greenway finished with his fifth shot of the season.
Defenders Nikita Prothero and Lewis looked dangerous all afternoon and combined well for the Lightning’s second goal.
Reardon pounced on a tipped inbounds ball and raced upfield before Prothero’s cross passed to Lewis in the corner.
Despite a lack of possession and ground, Edinburgh managed a second try as their powerful maul gave Hooker Ronald the chance to break free.
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Lightning wing Anwen Irving then completed a brilliant breakaway in a suffocating play that resulted in Nicole Marleau being booked for blatant offside.
The Chargers took full advantage, with Pierce going first down the line at halftime.
The Lightning continued to dominate after the break, with Welsh duo Reardon and Maisie Davies at the heart of the forward pressure.
Davis thought she had the ball to the line in the 50th minute, but without help from the TMO, the game was called off. Later replays showed the loose head was an inch shorter.
Edinburgh defended resolutely but their lineout proved their Achilles’ heel and Reardon caught the ball on base and raced all the way to the foul line for a bonus three runs.
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Edinburgh cleared their bench early in an attempt to get back into the game and responded in the 65th minute when fly-half Ramsey displayed some fine individual skill to skate through unscathed.
They piled on the pressure as they tied the game, but Hawkins, the Lightning’s lively backup forward, had the final say, sniping from collapse to death.
how they line up
Gwalia Lightning: Prothero; Greenway, Webster, Anderson-Thomas, Lewis; Hughes, Bevans; Davis, Reardon, Hill, Pierce, Vukaj, Eli, Irving, King (captain)
Alternatives: Crabbe, Cumming, Scoble, Stewart, Bavry-Latham, Hawkins, McMullen, Hesketh
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Edinburgh: Marlowe; Bell, Phillips, McRae, Walker (captain); Ramsay, Love; Wilson, Ronald, Pullman, Ferry, Logan, Moody, Stewart, Lusby
Alternatives: Whitehouse, Tarvak, Sutherland, Russell, McGroarty, Benson, Waters, Haddow
Xin Bin: Marlowe(37)