Courtney Greenway grabbed a hat-trick as Gwalia Lighting powered to an impressive 31-19 victory on the road in a tight and tense affair with Glasgow Warriors in Round 3 of the Celtic Challenge at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Welsh side recorded to their second win of the campaign and were well worth their bonus-point win against the Scots.
They were pushed all the way by an impressive Warriors side but this win away from home will give a young Lightning side a real boost of confidence.
Wales duo Tilly Vucaj and Molly Reardon crossed for tries and GB Sevens wing Courtney Greenway crossed for a hat-trick of tries for Gwalia.
Skipper Bryonie King, once again, led from the front with a combination of big hits and trademark charges with ball in hand. But the Welsh side’s defence and ability to score tries away from home bodes well for rest of the Celtic Challenge.
This was Glasgow’s first home game of the new Celtic Challenge campaign but Gwalia were to build on their win over Welsh rivals Brython Thunder in the festive derby in Round 2.
The Warriors started brightly but the visitors defence held firm with skipper King pulling off a try saving turnover in the shadow of Gwalia’s posts. But the Warriors would not be denied and wing Sky Phimster ran in from 60m for her interception try to make it 5-0 midway through the second half.
Gwalia had their chances with scrum half Sian Jones launching an attack from halfway and wing Nikita Prothero was hauled down by a last ditch tackle near the Warriors line.
The visitors took the lead when scrum half Jones took a quick tap-penalty and lock Vucaj crashed over to level the score. Fly half Carys Hughes landed the conversion to give Gwalia a 7-5 lead.
The Welsh side had an opportunity to stretch their lead with a well worked lineout but the Warriors defence held firm to make it 7-5 to Gwalia at half-time.
After the break, Warriors took the lead with a superb solo by second row Freya Walker who raced in from halfway. Fly half Ceitidh Answorth converted.
Second row Alaw Pyrs looked to have replied with a try but officials ruled the ball had been knocked on but the visitors would soon cross the whitewash.
Wales hooker Reardon crashed over after a dominant lineout drive by Gwalia to make it 12-12 after 50 minutes.
The Warriors struck back with a try by flanker Gemma Bell after a period of pressure to retake the lead for the Scots.
Wing Greenway then crossed for Gwalia’s third try after the Warriors fumbled the ball in midfield to score her third try of the season so far.
Fly half Hughes landed the extras to make it 19-19 midway through the second half before Greenway crossed for her second try to give Gwalia a 24-19 lead.
Greenway raced away for her third try to seal the win four minutes from time to give Gwalia a well deserved win.
