Glasgow Warriors sweep aside Brython Thunder

Celtic Challenge round one

Brython Thunder: (12) 17

Tries: Tromans, Marshall, Rogers Con: Marshall

Glasgow Warriors (12) 36

Tries: Phimister 2, Smyth 2, Mellanby, Bogan Cons: Darroch3

Glasgow Warriors opened their Celtic Challenge campaign with a six-try victory over Brython Thunder.

Thunder's Ellie Tromans and Hanna Marshall scored either side of a Sky Phimister double in a closely contested first half.

The visitors pulled away after the break, with two tries for Hannah Smyth, while Jess Rogers' close-range effort sparked hopes of a comeback.

But Glasgow sealed an impressive opening victory with late tries from Poppy Mellanby and Holland Bogan.

Both sides head into festive derbies on 27 December, with Thunder facing Gwalia Lightning at Cardiff Arms Park (14:00 GMT) and Glasgow taking on Edinburgh at Hive Stadium in the day's earlier kick-off (12:00 GMT).

Thunder started brightly in Llanelli and were rewarded with the opening try on six minutes.

Marshall's kick to the corner provided a good attacking platform, with impressive hooker Shanelle Williams making good yards before an opportunist Tromans poached from a metre out.

Glasgow looked to have hit back almost immediately when Smyth made a break down the wing, but Amelia Tutt came up with a superb cover tackle.

Poor Thunder discipline kept Glasgow in the hunt and they eventually found numbers on the opposite wing with Phimister crossing in the corner.

Phimister was over again just before the half hour mark, the wing showing an impressive turn of pace after some neat hands in the midfield.

Thunder pulled the scores level just before half-time when Tutt and Marshall chased a Ffion Lewis grubber kick and won a turnover.

Quick thinking from Marshall saw her take a tap penalty to make the scores 12-12 going down the tunnel.

Thunder put themselves in plenty of promising positions after the break but lacked a clinical edge in a typical season opener.

Lewis, who had been impressive since returning to Welsh rugby from a stint in the United States, came closest to scoring, but was held up over the line.

Glasgow's backs in contrast looked well-gelled and Smyth crossed on the hour after the ball went seamlessly through the hands from the opposite wing.

Smyth was in for a bonus-point try soon after, the pacey wing capitalising off some sloppy Thunder passing for a 50m run in.

Thunder skipper Rogers hit back, driving over after a well-taken lineout from Wales lock Natalia John.

But hopes of a comeback were dashed when they lost lineout ball deep in their own territory with Glasgow taking full advantage, the move finished by an out the back door pass for Mellanby to cross.

A sixth and final try came at the death with Bogan crashing over from close range.

Brython Thunder: Wilkinson; Tutt, Tromans, Healen, Singleton; Marshall, F Lewis; Stella Orrin, S Williams, E Jones, R Davies, John, C Jones, Rogers (capt), Metcalfe.

Replacements: A Morgan, M Lewis, James, M Haf Bowen, F Jones, Lockwood, F Williams, Webb.

Glasgow Warriors: Mellanby; Phimister, Flynn, McNamara, Smyth; Ainsworth, Darroch; Grace, Hyland, Spence, Bogan, Thomson, Taganekurukuru, Bell, Coubrough

Replacements: Sutcliffe, Gillan, Lindsay, Merryweather, Walker, Douglas, McClaren, Norval