A young Brython Thunder side lost to Gwalia Lighting 42-22 in the opening Welsh derby of the Celtic Challenge league campaign.
A crowd of more than 500 turned up for a traditional and typically physical and bruising Welsh derby between the two Welsh sides in the new home and away expanded competition.
Brython will host the return game against Gwalia at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, December 28 (2.30pm).
Fly-half Carys Hughes announced her return to Celtic Challenge with a personal haul of 17 points, including a try and six conversions. Gwalia crossed for six tries and Brython four.
The Gwalia pack and set-piece proved to much for Brython with Wales duo scrum half Sian Jones and No. 8 Gwennan Hopkins the pick of an impressive display by the home side.
There were 12 Wales Test stars selected in the starting line-up for both sides, with Gwalia the more experienced side with eight Wales internationals, while Brython had four Wales stars in their starting line-up.
It was Brython who opened the scoring when hooker Chloe Gant crossed for a try from short-range. Ellie Tromans missed the conversion
Gwalia replied when openside flanker Paige Jones crashed over after a slick lineout to level the score. Fly-half Carys Hughes slotted over the conversion to give Gwalia a 7-5 lead.
The Lightning stretched their lead when Wales wing Catherine Richards latched on a stray Thunder pass and sped away from 40m for a well-taken interception try.
Fly-half Hughes added the conversion to make it 14-5 before Thunder went down to 14 players when prop Katie Carr shown a yellow card and Lightning took full advantage and prop Maisie Davies crossed for the home side’s third try.
Hughes added her third conversion to stretch her side’s lead to 21-5 at half-time. After the break, the fly-half scored her side’s fourth try and converted her own try to stretch Gwalia’s lead to 23 points.
Backrow Lily Terry crossed for a fifth try from short-range and Hughes added another conversion to make it 35-5 before Thunder replied with a try by replacement Evie Hill for the visitors’ second try of the afternoon.
With Gwalia down to 14 due to a yellow card, captain Natalia John and wing Eleanor Hing crashed over for Brython.
But it was Gwalia who had the last say with a sixth try by replacement Caitlin Lewis.