Wales full back Jenny Hesketh and Maisie Davies crossed for the Welsh side’s tries in an intense, physical and abrasive contest in a freezing Cork.
Both teams were ferocious in defence and at the breakdown but the Wolfhounds side, full of Ireland internationals, ground out a win against a young Gwalia side.
Gwalia proved a tough nut to crack and came away with a losing bonus-point from Ireland knowing they gave the best team in the Celtic Challenge a real run for their money.
The top of the table clash was part of a double-header with both Irish sides hosting Gwalia in the first game and the Clovers played Glasgow in the second game in the afternoon.
Hesketh made her first start for Gwalia Lightning in the league against the Wolfhounds in Ireland. Gwalia Lightning came into this clash on the back of an impressive three-match winning run and full of confidence.
Both sides had only lost one game in the Celtic Challenge before this mouthwatering clash between the two best sides in the league.
Wolfhounds looked to have scored an opening try from a driving lineout but some great defence by the visitors held them out in a cagey first quarter.
The home side finally broke the deadlock when scrum half Katie Whelan crashed over from short-range for the try.
Fly half Dannah O’Brien added the conversion to make it 7-0 after 25 minutes after a concerted period of pressure by Wolfhounds.
Gwalia replied with a penalty by fly-half Carys Hughes to cut the deficit to four points and make the score 7-3.
The visitors then took the lead after an impressive period of phase play in the shadow of the Wolfhounds posts and full back Hesketh crossed for the try in the corner to make it 8-7.
Wolfhounds replied with a try by hooker Maebh Clenaghan with O’Brien adding the conversion to make it 14-8 at half-time.
After the break, the home side came out and piled on the pressure but Gwalia’s defence held firm until replacement Katie Corrigan grabbed a third try.
O’Brien converted and Hughes missed a penalty to make it 21-8 midway through the second half.
Prop Davies then crashed over from short-range for Gwalia’s second try, converted by Hughes to make it 21-15 with ten minutes on the clock.
Lock Alaw Pyrs was held up over the line in the dying moments but Gwalia side full of young Welsh talent did themselves proud.
