Wolfhounds top with Glasgow victory as Clovers win
Wolfhounds have won all five of their Celtic Challenge games
- Published
Wolfhounds moved top of the Celtic Challenge with a bonus-point 52-26 victory over Glasgow Warriors at Virgin Media Park.
The reigning champions led 40-0 at the break after an impressive opening period with the second half much more even as the Warriors added four tries of their own.
Earlier in the day, Cloverssealed a bonus-point win against bottom of the table Brython Thunder.
Next weekend, Wolfhounds face second placed Gwalia Lightning with Clovers travelling to play Glasgow Warriors.
Wolfhounds worthy winners against Warriors
Wolfhounds pushed forward from the start and opened the scoring in the first 10 minutes when Caoimhe Molloy twisted and turned before crossing the line and Abby Moyles added the extra two.
Erin King's effort, converted by Moyles, continued the home side's strong start. Then, after a good run down the left wing, Katie Corrigan's try added another five and Moyles made it three from three conversions.
Wolfhounds continued to be ruthless and extended their lead through prop Linda Djougang.
Fiona Tuite added another when she split the Warriors' defence in half with Moyles able to convert once again.
The experienced Maeve Og O'Leary added a sixth try with Moyles' extra two taking the hosts' tally to 40 at the end of the first half.
Molloy registered her second try of the afternoon a minute after the restart as Neill Alcorn's side continued to run riot.
Eve Higgins received the ball on the right and crossed for Vicky Elmes Kinlan to touch down to make it 52-0.
The Warriors got on the scoreboard when Holland Bogan held off multiple navy and blue jerseys to race through before Millie Warren added the extras.
The converted try boosted the visitors' confidence and, after Tuite was sent to the sin-bin, they added another seven points through Rianna Darroch and Warren.
Searching for the losing bonus-point, Briar McNamara crossed the whitewash before Warren converted.
Sky Phimister then burst down the right wing and sealed Glasgow's fourth second-half try and the point.
Clinical Clovers register bonus-point win over Brython Thunder
Clovers scored 17 unanswered points to secure the bonus-point win
Clovers secured a 29-12 bonus-point win against Brython Thunder in Cork to register their third victory in a row in the Celtic Challenge.
After a tight first half, the scores were level at 12-12 at the break with the Thunder twice responding well to falling behind.
However, 17 unanswered points from Clovers after the turn ensured that Denis Fogarty's side took the full five points from the encounter.
Siobhan McCarthy crossed the line for the Clovers to give them an early lead before the visitors responded through Jess Rogers' converted try.
Caitriona Finn and Annakate Cournane linked up to help the hosts edge ahead once again with the latter finishing off the move, but Rhian Bowden touched down from a maul just before the break to level the game again.
The second half, however, was a more one-sided affair.
Just after the restart, Emily Lane sent Emily Foley over the whitewash for a well-worked try for the Clovers, who then started to dominate the game.
Niamh Murphy secured the four-try bonus for the Irish side with Aoife Corey later extending their advantage with a superb individual effort to round out the scoring.
