Three matches:
Clovers v Gwalia Lightning (Belfast)
Edinburgh Rugby v Brython Thunder (Edinburgh)
Wolfhounds v Glasgow Warriors (Belfast)
The good news is that we are seeing tighter finishes.
Clovers v Gwalia Lightning
Through the first half you could spot a distinct gap in class. Where was the method in Gwalia’s recycles. That meant more worries for the non-existent Welsh coach. Scott Bemand had been watching closely over Clovers.
They won an early scrum penalty to assert their authority. Gwalia’s failure to nail first-time tackles helped the process. Anna McGann made a big break down the right; she had her reward at the next ruck: Emily Lane sniped straight through the middle and over. Sentries asleep on watch.
Both teams indulged in sets of kick-tennis, a sport Gwalia were unlikely to win with Nicole Fowley on duty. And the Welsh looked slower in thought and movement at this stage.
Gwalia paid for another kick ahead; Clovers countered superbly, Alanna McInerny taking a return pass short of line to cross. 12-0
Gwalia had their best chance yet with a line-out drive, but it splintered and was held up.
Twice Gwalia opted for a quick tap – good! But the second time the pass was dropped; no gain visible from the tactic. They paid the penalty. The ball swung out to Hannah Clarke, and she threaded back inside and over. 17-0
Now the game grew more open and even, a delight for the hardy spectators.
Gwalia started the second half far better. The line-out, such a vital element in the modern game, was more accurate, and the drives that followed earned penalties. They were in charge for a while, but once more Clovers held them up short of the line. So they turned to Carys Hughes for a pot at goal, but she was a long way out and pulled it left.
It seemed to be a sign of Clovers’ strength when on 48 minutes Amee Leigh Costigan joined the action, but that was the sign for Gwalia to earn their reward. They won a scrum penalty, drove, and Molly Reardon got them off the mark. 17-7
They undid the good work by allowing Lane a second snipe through an unguarded ruck, I hesitate to call it simple, but the Welsh should have earned their lesson the first time. 22-7
Lane had her hat-trick by other means: her pack controlled a catch-and-drive so well that she had an open door to the line. 29-7
The game finished with McInerney unable to take a pass from Clarke on the Gwalia line for a final flourish. Clovers’ attack had worked well on occasions, but their defence was even better.
Result: 29-7
Teams:
Clovers
15. Meabh Deely, 14. Alanna McInerney, 13. Anna McGann, 12. Enya Breen (captain), 11. Hannah Clarke, 10. Nicole Fowley, 9. Emily Lane, 1. Siobhán McCarthy, 2. Beth Buttimer, 3. Sadhbh
McGrath, 4. Ruth Campbell, 5. Jane Neill, 6. Edel McMahon, 7. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, 8. Ivana Kiripati
16. Emily Gavin, 17. Grainne Burke, 18. Sophie Barrett, 19. Faith Oviawe, 20. Jemima Adams Verling, 21. Grainne Moran, 22. Caitriona Finn, 23. Amee Leigh Costigan
Gwalia Lightning
15. Courtney Greenway, 14. Caitlin Lewis, 13. Carys Williams-Morris, 12. Molly Anderson-Thomas, 11. Lowri Davies, 10. Carys Hughes, 9. Katie Bevans; 1. Maisie Davies, 2. Molly Reardon, 3. Jenni Scoble, 4. Lily Terry, 5. Alaw Pyrs,6. Katherine Baverstock, 7. Paige Jones, 8. Gwennan Hopkins (captain)
16. Mollie Wakely, 17. Dali Hopkins, 18. Danyelle Dinapoli, 19. Erin Jones, 20. Lottie Buffery- Latham, 21. Seren Lockwood, 22. Nia Fajeyisan, 23. Nia Grundy
Edinburgh Rugby v Brython Thunder
Despite an early lack of scores, there was a noticeable advance in pace and skill in this game. On the 20-minute mark Edinburgh built a delightful movement, involving backs and forwards. It started with a pick by No 8 Samaanther Taganekurukuru, and she finished it from a excellent offload under pressure by Hannah Ramsay – a first-class team try.
But this was not the start of a torrent of scores; instead the match turned into just the sort of even contest the CC needs.
Thunder made a strong counter, but Ellie Tromans was hauled down just short of the line.
On the half-hour another fine move by the Edinburgh backs saw Hannah Walker cross in the left corner. 10-0
A good-looking BT attack ended with a holding-on call, and the response was dramatic. Rhea Clarke tapped and was away. The ball was fed to Cieron Bell on the right, and she sliced back to confound the defence.
Half-time: 17-0
Brython came back strongly after the break. Hannah Lane achieved their first try The second came from a penalty to the corner, an attack through midfield, then Hannah Bluck forcing her way over. 17-10
That jolted the hosts awake again. Fine running and handling gave Cieron Bell the crucial bonus- point score. Edinburgh were kept sweating till the end, since Bluck went over for her second.
Just the sort of tight competitive game the tournament needs, but Brython remain winless.
Teams
Edinburgh Rugby
15. Lucia Scott, 14. Cieron Bell, 13. Giselle Chicot, 12. Lucy MacRae, 11. Hannah Walker,
10. Hannah Ramsay, 9. Rhea Clarke, 1.Alison Wilson, 2. Aila Ronald, 3. Molly Poolman, 4. Adelle Ferrie, 5. Natasha Logan, 6. Merryn Gunderson, 7. Alex Stewart (captain), 8. Samaanther Taganekurukuru
16. Kaylee Fraser, 17. Talei Tawake, 18. Hannah McMahon, 19. Lucy Christie, 20. Charlotte Fosbeary, 21. Pip Benson, 22. Sarah Denholm, 23. Lisa Brown
Brython Thunder
15. Hannah Lane; 14. Ellie Tromans, 13. Hannah Bluck, 12. Savannah Picton- Powell, 11. Eleanor Hing, 10. Niamh Terry, 9. Seren Singleton, 1. Lowri Williams, 2. Poppy Hughes, 3. Katie Carr, 4. Gwen Crabb, 5. Natalia John (capt), 6. Robyn Davies, 7. Lucy Isaac, 8. Jessica Rogers
16. Chloe Gant, 17. Chloe Thomas-Bradley, 18. Meg Lewis, 19. Danai Mugabe, 20. Kira Philpott, 21. Bethan Adkins, 22. Hanna Marshall, 23. Meg Webb
Afterthought
The two strips were interesting, red v tangerine (or possibly mandarin?). I’m not sure what effect that had on people suffering colour-blindness, but World Rugby has been anxious to end possible clashes.
Wolfhounds v Glasgow Warriors
This game provided the only runaway win of the day. On paper and on the field this looked like a home banker, and so it proved.
It’s disturbing to find one of the only two districts in Scottish rugby languishing like this. The one consolation is the quality of the full-strength Scotland side. But here the Wolfhounds had it nearly all their own way.
The pattern was set early. The Hounds had to scramble back to secure a kick ahead. Stacey Flood fielded it, expecting to be flattened by a steamroller of Warrior forwards. But no; she jinked and jinked, and was away. In support came the two props, Niamh O’Dowd then Linda Djougang, and she unveiled her weekly end to end jaunt.
That sort of sequence makes rugby an attractive spectacle, but gives coaches sleepless nights
Results
Clovers 29 Gwalia Lightning 7
Edinburgh Rugby 22 Brython Thunder 15
Wolfhounds 48 Glasgow Warriors 7
It is a pity that the six teams have not all played the same numbers of matches. Those restricted to two are Edinburgh, top on 10 points, and Glasgow, bottom on 0. The two Irish sides come second and third, also on ten, with Gwalia and Brython trailing on 9 and 2.
