Celtic Challenge: Seven-try Wolfhounds hammer Clovers in Irish derby

The Wolfhounds secured top seeding for the Celtic Challenge semi-finals with a seven-try 43-20 win over Irish rivals Clovers at the UCD Bowl.

Grace Moore powered over inside five minutes to give the Wolfhounds a perfect start, and India Daley finished off a maul to their second try.

Niamh Marley finished off a superb team try to extend their advantage and the Wolfhounds secured the bonus point inside 30 minutes when Daley scored after latching on to Dannah O’Brien’s clever offload.

Erin King crashed over after breaks from her Ireland team-mates Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins, and there was time for a sixth try before half time when Robyn O’Connor burst over in the corner for a 36-0 lead.

Wing Beibhinn Parsons got the Clovers on the board three minutes after the restart, but that score was immediately cancelled out by King’s second score of the game.

Anna McGann scored a second Clovers try before the Wolfhounds were reduced to 14 players when replacement hooker Maebh Clenaghan was sent off for lashing out at opposite number Beth Buttimer.

Katie Whelan and McGann both crossed in the closing stages to secure the bonus point but they could not close the gap to their Irish rivals.

The Clovers have to settle for second place in the regular season but will still have a home semi-final.

Brython Thunder host Gwaila Lightning in a derby on Sunday and the visitors need a large bonus point win to finish above their Welsh rivals, but both sides have already secured a top-four finish.

If the placing stay as they are, the Wolfhounds will host Brython Thunder while Gwaila Lightning will take on the Clovers in the last four.