In a rarer type of double-header, four teams from three nations gathered in Cork. The centrepiece was a match-up between the top two. Once more Wolfhounds bore the closest resemblance to a full test side.
Wolfhounds v Gwalia Lightning
Teams:
Wolfhounds
15. Ella Roberts 14. Vicky Elmes Kinlan 13. Aoife Dalton 12. Eve Higgins 11. Amy Larn 10. Dannah O’Brien 9. Katie Whelan 1. Niamh O’Dowd 2. Maebh Clenaghan 3. Christy Haney 4. Fiona Tuite 5. Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair 6. Claire Boles (captain) 7. Erin King 8. Brittany Hogan
16. Kelly Burke 17. Tricia Doyle 18. Linda Djougang 19. Alma Atagamen 20. Molly Boyne 21. Erin McConnell 22. Katie Corrigan 23. Anna Doyle
Gwalia Lightning
15. Jenny Hesketh 14. Courtney Greenway, 13. Kelsie Webster, 12. Anwen Owen, 11. Caitlin Lewis 10. Carys Hughes, 9.Sian Jones 1. Maisie Davies, 2. Molly Wakely, 3. Danyelle Dinapoli, 4. Lily Terry, 5. Alaw Pyrs, 6. Bryonie King (captain), 7. Catrin Stewart, 8. Gwennan Hopkins
16. Molly Mae Crabb 17. Dali Hopkins 18. Cana Williams 19. Paige Jones 20. Lottie Buffery-Latham 21. Katie Bevans 22. Freya Bell 23. Carys Williams-Morris
Gwalia are a team reborn; this was to be a real tussle.
Not a great start for debutant Jenny Hesketh; she dropped the kick-off. But Gwalia showed good control, forwards driving through and recycling with confidence. Sian Jones’ first deep kick caused real problems.
Hesketh did catch Dannah O’Brien’s second kick safely to build a long set of phases. The Hounds could hardly see the ball. But when O’Brien resumed her aerial bombardment, Hesketh dropped her second.
Wolfhounds built some phase play, then demolished a set-scrum. They drove over the line, only for us to enjoy another version of the ‘held-up’ sign. That might become a major rerason for going to rugby matches. Such elegance required from the referee.
A spell of kick-tennis ended with Wolfhounds winning the game to love: a penalty on Gwalia’s 5m line. Another pitched battle there, another ‘held-up’. Top of your 2025 playlist.
Carys Hughes didn’t get much distance on her drop-out, and Katie Whelan achieved a legal touchdown – just. (7-0) Gwalia were distinctly lucky to gain a penalty for off-side in front of the posts. Hughes potted three points. 7-3
They now produced their best play. A catch and drive, followed by forward drives, then a spread to the left wing and Hesketh was over. (7-8) The visitors ahead!
Another testing kick by O’Brien set up Wolfhounds’ second score. The forwards pummeled at the line, and Maebh Clenaghan had the last touch. (14-8) They were close to success again as the break approached, but Kelsie Webster won a vital decision to relieve pressure.
Half-time: 14-8
One unfortunate loss of control by the Welsh led to a fine Wolfhounds try. Linda Djougang, now allowed to be where she ought to be, on the pitch, seized hold and drove forward. The ball spread left, and excellent combinations gave Katie Corrigan an open door to the line. 21—8.
The game slumbered till the 70th minute. From an attacking scrum, Gwennan Hopkins picked and drove. Brave Irish defence kept the invader at bay, but big Welsh forwards kept thrusting, and finally Maisie Davies found a way over. Back to a one-score margin. 21-15
As Gwalia tried to get back on terms, Amy Larn dropped a box-kick to put them on the front foot. Seven minutes left. Another fine diagonal from Sian Jones set them up.
You hardly need me to tell you the game finished over Wolfhounds line, beside the left post, with the ref making a very elegant ‘held-up’ sign. No comeback for the Welsh. We should have known all along.
Result: 21-15
Player of the Match: Erin King
Clovers v Glasgow Warriors
Clovers represent the other half of the test side – minus only the players committed to PWR clubs. So opponents have to be at their best.
Teams:
Clovers
15 Méabh Deely 14 Amee Leigh Costigan 13 Anna McGann 12 Enya Breen (captain) 11 Alana McInerney 10 Nicole Fowley 9 Emily Lane 1 Siobhán McCarthy 2 Beth Buttimer 3 Sophie Barrett 4 Jane Neill 5 Jane Clohessy 6 Brianna Heylmann 7 Deirbhile Nic a Bháird 8 Shirley Bailey
16 Emily Gavin 17 Grainne Burke 18 Saoirse Crowe 19 Aoibhe O’Flynn 20 Grace Brown Moran
21 Grainne Moran 22 Caitriona Finn 23 Aoife Corey
Glasgow Warriors
15 Sky Phimister 14 Abi Evans 13 Orla Proctor 12 Briar McNamara 11 Roma Fraser 10 Poppy Mellanby 9 Mairi McDonald 1 Ailie Tucker 2 Aicha Sutcliffe 3 Eilidh Flemming 4 Holland Bogan 5 Aisha Zameer 6 Freya Walker 7 Emma Bell 8 Emily Coubrough
16 Megan Hyland 17 Poppy Fletcher 18 Katie Lindsay 19 Kate Yeomans 20 Eilidh McGilvaray 21 Rianna Darroch 22 Ceitidh Ainsworth 23 Millie Warren
Mairi McDonald ran back to fetch Nicole Fowley’s deep kick, didn’t clear and paid the price. Warriors were hurled off the ruck; Clovers spread the ball, and Anna McGann went over. Here was another example of the Scots’ inexperience, not reacting as one to a situation. It was McDonald who had box-kicked in the first place. 5-0
Enya Breen suddenly freed herself from a clutch of bodies and aimed a long grubber at the right corner; Amee Leigh Costigan chased and won the touchdown. Outstanding invention. 12-0
Warriors did well to win two penalties, but their drives at the line finished with a knock-on.
On the quarter-hour Sky Phimister left the field with a leg injury. Clovers were dominant in most sectors, but Warriors won a ‘held-up’ over their line. Emily Lane scored next, spotting an unguarded ruck close in. 19-0
Kate Yeomans, hardly on the pitch as a replacement, saw yellow for a head-contact. On the half-hour Deirbhile Nic a Bháird had the bonus wrapped up. (24-0) Another excellent team move ended with Anna McGann bursting through the middle with the defences split. 31-0
At last Warriors produced a lovely move of their own. The ball transferred smoothly, and Roma Fraser was the happy recipient on the left. And still with 14 on the field.
Half-time: 31-5
In no time Clovers had their next try, through the pack. Warriors responded well: Briar McNamara made a strong break, but couldn’t quite link under pressure. Holland Bogan had their second score from an accurate line-out. 36-12
The next offering was a Costigan special. She ran half the pitch down the line to score; the build-up by forwards and backs was exemplary. 41-12
It was good to see Glasgow respond again. They spread the ball wide, and as it came back, McNamara bounced her way over. The visitors kept trying hard, but they couldn’t maintain possession long enough to worry the hosts. Their last error was a simple forward pass.
Result: Clovers 41 Glasgow Warriors 19
Player of the Match: Enya Breen
Simplified Table
Pts
Wolfhounds 29
Gwalia 25
Clovers 24
Edinburgh 14
Brython 7
Warriors 2
Afterthought
Internationally, the table reads: Ireland, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Scotland. We’ll see how that works out come the 6 Nations.
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