Celtic Challenge: Gwalia Lightning 14-19 Clovers

Clovers resisted a spirited Lightning comeback to leave Ystrad Mynach with a 19-14 win.

Third-placed Gwalia had a chance to overtake second-placed Clovers in the Celtic Challenge table but they got off to a disappointing start in the 12th minute.

Aoife Corey gave the visitors the lead when she scored the first try of the game. This was followed by another Clovers try when Alana McInerney went over just seven minutes later.

The impressive McInerney saw a gap in Gwalia’s defence and accelerated through to put the visitors 12-0 up after Siofra Hession converted.

Things went from bad to worse for Lightning when Niamh Murphy showed good strength to break through Gwalia’s defence and go over in the 53rd minute.

After another conversion from Hession, Clovers opened up a 19-point lead and looked difficult to catch.

But Courtney Greenway made an immediate impact off the bench in the 59th minute when she went over to get the hosts back into the game and make it 19-7 thanks to a Carys Hughes conversion.

Gwalia’s resistance continued in the 67th minute when Evie Hill scored to setup an exciting finish.

Clovers managed to hold onto lead and make it back-to-back losses for Lightning. In doing so, the Irish team also open up a five-point gap between the two teams in the Celtic Challenge table.