Gwalia Lightning saw their title hopes falter after a 17-48 defeat to reigning champions and league leaders, Wolfhounds, in round nine of the Celtic Challenge at Ystrad Mynach this afternoon.
Gwalia, unbeaten at home this season, found themselves pointless at half-time and down 39-0 after an impressive first half display by the Irish side.
Replacement full back Rhodd Parry, skipper Bryonie King, and wing Caitlin Lewis crossed for second half tries for Gwalia.
The Wolfhounds have been the pacesetters in the Celtic Challenge and won last year’s competition and had only lost only one game so far this season before this trip to Wales.
The Lightning came into this game with all to play for with only four points between the top three sides in the table. The Welsh side were the only side that could end the Irish dominance of Wolfhounds and Clovers in the competition.
Gwalia will finish of their league campaign when they face Irish side, Clovers, at the same venue next Saturday.
Wolfhounds enjoyed an early attack and opened the scoring from a driving lineout when flanker Claire Boles got the touchdown.
The visitors doubled their lead when centre Leah Tarpey exposed some soft defence by the home side. Fly half Dannah O’Brien added the conversion to make it 12-0 after Wolfhounds dominated the opening exchanges.
Wolfhounds third try came after a slick passing move saw wing Vicky Elmes Kinlan cross in the corner to make it 17-0 after a quarter of an hour.
The visitors crossed for the bonus-point try by centre Eve Higgins midway through before a fumble in midfield saw the Wolfhounds cross for a fifth try by Boles.
Fly half O’Brien added the conversion before wing Katie Corrigan crossed for another try before Boles crossed for a third try to make it 41-0 at half-time.
After the break, Wolfhounds crossed through wing Elmes Kinlan, before Gwalia replied with tries by full-back Parry, skipper King, and Lewis.
ENDDS