Glasgow went down to a second defeat in as many Celtic Challenge matches yesterday as Gwalia Lightning proved too strong at Cardiff Arms Park. The Welsh side scored six tries and would have had several more but for some defiant goal-line defence from the Scots, whose replacement forward Ailie Tucker touched down twice late in the game to put a gloss on proceedings.
The Warriors, who lost their opening game in the tournament to Edinburgh, were on the back foot for much of the match against opponents whose morale was high after they had kicked off the campaign with a derby win over Brython Thunder. Player of the game Gwenann Hopkins opened the scoring all too easily with a try off the back of a lineout, and Nel Metcalfe added the conversion.
Winger Catherine Richards got the home team’s second try before quick thinking by Scotland scrum-half Mairi McDonald put Holland Bogan in from a tapped penalty. Gwalia soon resumed the pressure after that try, and that pressure eventually told when Carys Hughes got their third touchdown, taking the half-time score to 17-5.
The Warriors needed the first score of the second half if they were to get back into the match, but they spent almost all of the third quarter on the back foot, and just before the hour mark loosehead prop Abbey Constable barged over from close range for Lightning’s bonus-point try.
Hopkins’ second try, converted by Metcalfe, put the issue beyond doubt. The full-back added another two points after Sian Jones got try No 6 from a tap penalty.
Both Tucker’s consolations came from close range, the first with five minutes of regulation time to go and the second several minutes into time added on. Lucy MacRae converted both.
On Saturday, Edinburgh lost 27-17 at home to the Wolfhounds, while the Clovers beat Brython Thunder 20-5.
