Celtic Challenge: Wolfhounds bank eight-try win over Lightning to secure semi-final spot

The Wolfhounds became the first side to book a semi-final place in the 2025-26 Celtic Challenge with a comprehensive 44-10 victory over Gwalia Lightning in Cork on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts, who boasted 10 Irish internationals including new captain Erin King in their starting line-up, ran in eight tries across the game, including three in the opening seven minutes.

Maggie Boylan, Eve Higgins and Vicky Elmes Kinlan all crossed in the early going, although fly-half Dannah O’Brien missed the conversion of all three scores to keep her side’s lead to 15-0.

Carys Hughes got the Lightning on the board with a penalty but the Wolfhounds scored three further tries before half-time with India Daley, Aoibheann Reilly and Fiona Tuite getting over for scores that gave their side a 32-3 half-time lead.

The second half was a more even affair with 24 minutes passing after the restart before replacement Maebh Clenaghan crashed over from a powerful maul.

The Ulster hooker scored her second off the bench, this time off a short line-out, with 12 minutes remaining.

Gwalia, who came into this round of fixtures second in the standings, scored a late consolation try through Chloe Thomas-Bradley in the 77th minute.

The victory means the defending champions have recorded six consecutive bonus-point wins in the competition and have secured their play-off spot with four games to spare.

Six points ahead of their fellow Irish side Clovers, Neill Alcorn’s side will be seeking to secure home advantage in the semi-finals when their competition resumes against Glasgow Warriors on February 15.

One day prior, the Lightning host Clovers who are one place and two points above them in the table in what will be a key fixture for play-off permutations.