Brython Thunder are still searching for their first win after going down 48-0 to reigning champions,
Wolfhounds, in Round 4 of the Celtic Challenge at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday afternoon.
The Wolfhounds were crowned league champions and were unbeaten in last season’s new
cross-border competition between sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Thunder came into this clash looking for a first win in the tournament and have improved
in all three games they had played.
But a Wolfhounds side, full of Irish internationals, proved too strong for a new-look and
Brython side that, once again, played with real guts and tenacity.
Wolfhounds hooker Maebh Clenaghan opened the scoring after a well worked driving lineout
to drive over from short-range. Fly-half Dannah O’Brien added the conversion to make it 7-0
to the visitors.
The visitors extended their lead with a copycat lineout after ten minutes with flanker Molly
Boyne crossed for their second try.
Olympian Eve Higgins, who played in the Paris Olympics for Ireland Sevens, then finished
off a slick backline move to score in the corner for the Wolfhounds. Fly half O’Brien
converted to make it 19-0.
Thunder had their moments when Wales centre Hannah Bluck broke the Irish defence deep
in her own half and wing Eleanor Hing was hauled down deep just short of the visitors’ line.
The home side showed their attacking intent with some impressive inter-passing between
backs and forwards but the Irish side’s defence held firm.
Wolfhounds crossed for a fourth and fifth try by centres Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton
converted to make it 31-0 at half-time.
After the break, replacement Katie Heffernan crossed in the corner for the visitors’ sixth try.
Replacement Hanna Marshall showed some nice touches when she came on in the second
half for Thunder.
Wolfhounds skipper Claire Boles and wing Ella Roberts crossed for further tries to secure a
comfortable win.